Navigating the Transition to Adulthood: A Legal Guide for Parents

High school graduation season is currently underway. For some students, next semester means starting college which may include leaving home for the first time. When a child reaches the age of 18, Ohio law states that the child is considered an adult with personal privacy rights. For parents, control over the child is largely lost and access to private information is strictly limited. When a child transitions to adulthood, the associated information restrictions have potential to complicate matters for parents in the event their child should experience an accident or illness. However, proactive planning efforts can properly address these situations before they occur and may mitigate the stress associated with unexpected disasters.