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When your children turn 18 they are legal adults. They might not act like adults all of the time, and you may still be supporting them financially, but in the eyes of the law they are indeed adults. This means that you can no longer make certain decisions for them, including health care decisions. Furthermore, you can no longer obtain medical information about your adult children without their authorization – even in an emergency.

Many people believe that estate planning is only for elders. The truth is that younger folks, including millennials, can benefit from having an estate plan of their own.

Approximately 3 million Americans move to another state each year, while last year alone the number was 4.7 million. Given the stress and myriad changes that come with such a move, it’s not surprising that many people forget to review their estate plans. However, differences between states regarding taxes, ownership of property, inheritance, and more make it extremely important to review, and if necessary, update your planning documents with an attorney who focuses on estate planning.

The statistics are rather alarming. In 2005, 50% of Americans had a will; today, only 32% of us have one. Meanwhile, only one in three Americans over the age of 55 has a durable power of attorney, and a mere 41% of this same demographic has advance health care directives.