Your child's age has finally caught up with their attitude and they are an adult, and you might be wondering what obligations you have to your child now that they are 18. The answer, according to the law, is zero. This may be an exhilarating thought for you or a terrifying one, depending on what kind of parent you are. But whether you're forced to land the helicopter or you've been relaxed and looking forward to your child leaving the nest, it's out of your hands.
The restrictions on your parenting have increased and you are no longer responsible for getting a sitter or overseeing every aspect of your child's life, and that's something you should both celebrate. Rest assured you may not have a say in decisions, but raising teens never really stops, it just becomes a part-time job, with full-time worries. The legal responsibility does not lie with the parents of a child who is 18 years or older.
Medical history is no longer your business
Hopefully you have given them the ability to ask medical questions themselves, because from the age of 18. You no longer have access to medical records at the age of 18, and you have no right to ask questions about your child or on his or her behalf. The only way you will be able to access medical records or speak with their doctor is if they invite you into the medical appointment with them and give explicit permission.
They are considered old enough to take care of themselves – really?
When a child turns 18, he or she may no longer be a parent's responsibility in the eyes of the law, but that rarely plays out in reality.
A child may be considered of age and old enough to care for himself, and a parent may eagerly say how independent his 18-year-old is. But the fact is that an adult's brain is not fully mature until age 25. This means that while they are responsible for doing their homework and helping with chores, and even have a job, they are not mentally fully mature yet.
A young adult is capable of living on his or her own in most cases, but should probably hold off on making life-changing decisions. Buying a house, getting married, etc. Are, for example, decisions that are best left undecided until they are fully matured. And while you may have a lot to say about it, if your child disagrees, he or she is well within his or her rights not to listen to a word you say.
Degrees are not your business
Often, a child will turn 18 before graduating from high school, so this is an example of being an adult but not being able to live independently of parents. Still rely on a parent for financial support, housing, clothing, class trip, etc. Goes. But that same 18-year-old doesn't have to show you his college or university grades or involve you in any way because he's an adult.
So while you may still have some influence over him in his last year of high school, if he is unwilling to keep you informed after secondary school, that is entirely up to him. There's a reason why there are so many TV shows and movies where parents are surprised to find out that their child flunked out of college months before the big reveal. This is because the "adult" child did not have to tell them.
Finance
If you have a joint bank account with your teen, you still have access to that account, but if they open their own account or apply for credit cards or car loans in their name, that's none of your business either, thankfully. Your child would be fully responsible for all payments on anything in his or her name, including rent, car loans, student loans, etc. That's an advantage even helicopter parents can appreciate. When the bills come, for once you are not responsible for them. And if you don't have a college fund set up, it's all on them too.
Exception to the rule
If your child has special needs and is unable to physically care for themselves or make decisions independently, you would most likely be assigned as the one to make financial and medical decisions for them.