What do Colorado 18 year olds need to know?

Whether you recently turned 18 or will soon be 18 in the state of Colorado, congrats! According to the state, you just become an adult. This transition is exciting, but a lot of changes happen when you become an adult — and there's a lot you need to know.

Wise Birds Workshop is an online legal workshop for young adults living in or from Colorado. Our creator is an estate planning attorney of 15+ years and knows the importance of educating young adults so they aren't left confused, worried about their legal rights, or without the right documentation to be legally protected.

Here are 3 things you need when turning 18 in Colorado:

A HIPAA Form

Although thinking about worst-case scenarios isn't fun, it's important to acknowledge that if you're traveling or going away to college or just being on your own, you need a HIPAA Authorization and Release Form just in case.

What does a HIPAA Form do? If you get into an accident, need an emergency surgery, or have a drug or alcohol overdose, a HIPAA form will allow your emergency contact to have access to your medical records. This is important to have so that the Agent’s you’ve named in your Medical Power of Attorney can actually have access to your medical records.if you want to designate your parents to be your emergency contact.

A Medical Durable Power of Attorney

If you find yourself in any of the scenarios above, a Medical Durable Power of Attorney is also a critical document to designate who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to. Even if you just want your parents to be able to make appointments for you or pick up a prescription, this document will be needed. Again, if you want to designate your parents to make these kinds of important decisions or simply be able to conveniently help you, you will need to add them into this legal document.

General Durable Power of Attorney

The third and final recommendation for documentation needed when you turn 18 is a General Durable Power of Attorney. Although the above two documents are important if your emergency contact needs to be medical decisions and have access to your medical records, the General Durable Power of Attorney is different because it’s focus is on the financial and personal affairs of your life.

In order for your parents or designated person to be able to have the power to speak with your insurance company, help pay bills, negotiate a lease, deal with a lawsuit, or help handle financial aspects of your life, you need to enable them with a General Durable Power of Attorney.

It might sound overwhelming and confusing when it comes to the steps you need to take to be a legally protected adult in Colorado.

Wise Birds Workshop is here to make it easy for you! Our one-hour online legal workshop will walk you through the three documents discussed above. Plus, you'll also have access to DocuBank where you can store these documents digitally.

Learn more about the Wise Birds Workshop course here!