Children turning 18

Having a child turn 18 is cause for big celebration! As excited as you may be for them to start taking ownership of their lives and accountability for their actions, there's one area of control you may not want to give up quite yet. Did you know that once your child is 18 information regarding their education will no longer be disclosed to you without their written consent? That's right! Even if you're the one paying their college tuition bills!

As crazy as this may sound, it's the law, and it's called FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. FERPA protects the privacy of student educational records. While you're guaranteed access to this information while your child is a minor, once the child turns 18 parents can be shut out. That's why you may want to complete a FERPA Authorization Form to keep on file with the school your adult child is attending.

A FERPA authorization allows you to access all of your adult child's educational records, including transcripts, disciplinary actions, scholarships, tuition and any medical records maintained by a school's health clinic. It's important to note that the medical records held at the campus clinic are not accessible through a HIPAA authorization form, because they're considered "educational records." So if you want access, you must have a FERPA authorization form on file.

Helping your child pay for college is a huge investment in their future, and being able to stay on top of their education and well-being is a big part of making sure it's done right. Make sure you're prepared, and if you need more info, let's connect!