Heading off to college is a milestone, but for many Florida families, it’s also a legal blind spot. Once your child turns 18, you’re no longer automatically authorized to step in during an emergency. From medical care to financial accounts to academic records, the law views your student as an adult.
This guide walks through the essential legal documents and practical life lessons every Florida student (and parent) should have in place before classes start. Think of it as a legal and mental checklist to help your student stay safe, supported, and independent.
What is a HIPAA Authorization Form and Why Do College Students Need It?
Once your child turns 18, HIPAA privacy laws mean doctors cannot share medical information with parents, even during emergencies. A HIPAA release doesn’t take away your student’s independence, but it allows them to designate someone (like a parent) to receive updates if something serious happens.
Without a signed HIPAA release, you may not be able to:
- Confirm whether your student is in the hospital
- Receive updates during surgery
- Speak with mental health providers about treatment
Example: Imagine your child is rushed to the ER after a sports accident. Unless they’ve signed a HIPAA release, doctors cannot legally tell you their condition.
Action step: Have your student sign a HIPAA Authorization Form before move-in day and provide copies to their primary doctor and campus health center. They can revoke or update this at any time.
What is a Medical Power of Attorney and When Should You Use It?
A Medical Power of Attorney (also called a Healthcare Surrogate Designation under Florida law) goes one step further than a HIPAA release. While HIPAA allows doctors to share information with you, a Medical POA allows your student to name someone they trust to make decisions if they cannot.
This document comes into play if your student is:
- Unconscious after an accident
- Incapacitated due to illness or injury
- Unable to consent to treatment themselves
Example: If your student is in surgery and a complication arises, the surgeon may need immediate consent to proceed. Without a Medical POA in place, you cannot legally step in.
Action step: Florida students can name a parent, or another trusted adult, as their healthcare surrogate. The document must be signed in front of two witnesses, so it’s best to prepare this before your student leaves for campus.
How Does a FERPA Release Help Parents Access Academic Records?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) shifts control of academic records to the student once they turn 18. That means parents lose automatic access, even if they are paying tuition. A FERPA release doesn’t give parents authority to make academic decisions, it simply allows the school to share information if the student chooses.
Without a FERPA release, parents may be unable to see:
- Grades or transcripts
- Class schedules
- Tuition statements or account balances
- Notices about academic probation or warnings
Example: A student may be struggling with classes but feel embarrassed to tell their parents. Without a FERPA release, the school cannot share academic updates, which means parents might not learn about problems until it’s too late to help.
Action step: Explain to your student the significance of signing a FERPA Release with their school’s registrar’s office. Many universities make this easy through online portals. The form can be updated or revoked at any time—so your student stays in control while still giving you the ability to support them when needed.
Do College Students Need a Durable Power of Attorney?
A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a document that allows your student to name someone they trust, often a parent, to help with financial or legal matters if needed. While a Medical POA only applies to healthcare decisions, a DPOA covers financial decisions involving: banking, housing, and control of other personal assets.
With a DPOA, you can assist your student with things like:
- Managing a bank account if it gets frozen or compromised
- Paying bills or tuition on their behalf
- Signing lease or housing documents if they’re unavailable (for example, while studying abroad)
- Handling financial aid or insurance paperwork in an emergency
It’s important to discuss with your student that this isn’t about parents having total control. A DPOA is a safety net, giving them someone to lean on when they can’t take care of something themselves. It can also be customized, limited in scope, time, or purpose, so they decide exactly how much authority to give.
Example: Imagine your student is in the hospital after an accident and rent is due. With a DPOA in place, you can contact the landlord and make sure housing is secured while your student recovers.
Action step: Encourage your student to consider signing a DPOA before leaving for school, especially if they’ll be far from home or traveling abroad. It ensures that someone they trust can step in quickly if something goes wrong.
Should My College Student Create a Simple Will or Digital Estate Plan?
For many college students, a will might seem unnecessary, but it can actually be a smart step, especially for those who already own a car, have a bank account, or carry life insurance. A simple will makes sure their assets are distributed according to their wishes and not left to the default rules of state law.
At the same time, students today also have digital lives that need planning. Without some form of digital estate plan, parents may face major hurdles trying to access or close important accounts.
Without these documents, parents may struggle to:
- Access online accounts (Google, Apple, email, social media)
- Manage money in apps like Venmo, PayPal, cryptocurrency, or investment platforms
- Close or transfer bank accounts, cars, or insurance policies
A basic will or digital estate plan doesn’t take away independence, it provides a safety net, ensuring someone your student trusts can step in if needed.
Action step: Express to your student it might be a good idea to create a simple Florida will and digital estate plan. Together, these ensure their accounts, property, and finances can be managed smoothly if the unexpected happens.
Legal Documents Are Just the Start
Having these forms in place helps parents support their student in an emergency, but documents alone aren’t enough. Preparing your student with the knowledge and confidence to handle real-world challenges like leases, accidents, and scams, is just as important for the present and the future.
What Should Florida Students Know About Lease Law 101?
For many college students, moving off-campus is their first experience signing a legal contract. A lease can look simple, but the fine print matters, and mistakes can be costly. Parents can help by making sure their student understands the basics before signing.
Key Issues Every Student Should Know
- Roommate liability: Most Florida leases use “joint and several liability.” This means if one roommate doesn’t pay rent, or damages the apartment, the other roommates can still be held responsible.
- Security deposits: Florida law requires landlords to return deposits within 15–60 days. If the landlord claims damages, the student must be notified in writing.
- Subletting: Many leases prohibit subletting without written landlord approval. Renting a room to a friend without permission could violate the lease.
- Breaking a lease: Moving out early often comes with steep penalties, and students may still owe rent until a new tenant is found.
Example: If one roommate hosts a party and damages the apartment, the landlord can apply the security deposit to repairs. Even roommates who weren’t involved may lose their share of the deposit.
Action step: Sit down with your student to review any lease carefully. Encourage them to ask questions about unclear terms, and consider having an attorney review the lease before signing. Understanding these rules up front can save your student, and you, stress and expense later.
What Should Students Know About Accidents and Liability?
Accidents happen, on the road, on campus, or even in an off-campus apartment. The way your student responds in the moment can have long-lasting effects on their health, finances, and legal rights. Many students make the mistake of brushing off an incident or failing to report it, not realizing how much that decision can cost them later.
Why Reporting Matters
- Car accidents: In Florida, drivers are legally required to report crashes involving injury, death, or property damage over $500. But in reality, even a small paint scratch can add up, what looks minor could turn into hundreds of dollars in repairs. The safest approach is to report any crash where there’s damage or injury, no matter how small it seems.
- Hidden injuries: Adrenaline often masks pain. If your student skips medical care, they may have no record of the injury later, making it harder for insurance to cover treatment.
- Insurance claims: Without a police report or medical documentation, insurance companies often argue that injuries weren’t caused by the accident and may refuse to pay.
- Shared spaces: In dorms or rentals, not reporting an injury or hazard (like a broken stair) could weaken any future claim against a landlord or property manager.
Example: A student rear-ended in a car accident might feel sore but decide not to see a doctor. Weeks later, the pain worsens. Because there’s no medical record from the day of the crash, the insurance company can argue the injury wasn’t caused by the accident and may refuse to cover treatment.
Action step: Teach your student to always report, document, and seek medical care immediately after an accident. Even if they think they’re fine, having a record protects their health and ensures they have coverage if issues come up later.
What Do iIDo If My Student Gets Into Legal Trouble on Campus?
One of the most important conversations you can have with your college student is about what to do if they get into legal trouble. College disciplinary systems are separate from criminal courts, but sometimes both come into play. A dorm incident might lead to a disciplinary hearing, while a run-in with campus police could also mean criminal charges.
What Your Student Needs to Know
- School consequences are serious. A disciplinary hearing could result in probation, suspension, or even expulsion.
- Criminal charges carry long-term effects. Fines, probation, or jail time are possible if campus or local police are involved.
- Both records matter. A school sanction can affect graduate school or future job applications, while a criminal record follows them for life.
How to Prepare Your Student
- Don’t try to “handle it alone.” Encourage them to contact you right away if they’re cited or arrested.
- Call an attorney first. Legal advice early on can protect both their academic and legal future.
- Stay calm and respectful. Remind them that arguing with campus security or police can make things worse.
- Know their rights. They don’t have to answer questions without a lawyer present.
Bottom Line for Parents
This isn’t about assuming your child will get in trouble, it’s about making sure they know what to do if something happens. A short conversation now can prevent panic later and give them the tools to protect their future.
How Can I Protect My College Student From Identity Theft or Scams?
As your child heads off to college, it’s important to prepare them not just for academics, but for the real-world challenges of managing money and independence. One of those challenges is learning how to spot and avoid scams. College students are frequent targets because scammers know they are often handling finances, housing, and jobs for the first time.
Common Scams to Watch For
Share these examples with your student so they know what to look out for:
- Scholarship & financial aid scams – “guaranteed money” that requires upfront fees.
- Job scams – fake job offers asking for bank info or upfront payment.
- Housing & textbook scams – listings that vanish once money is sent.
- Fake checks & overpayment schemes – students deposit a check, refund part of it, then discover the check was fake.
- Phishing emails – messages posing as the school or a company, asking for login details.
- Romance scams – someone builds an online relationship before requesting money.
How to Spot a Scam
Teach your student these warning signs:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
- Scammers create urgency—pressuring them to act fast.
- Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto are always a red flag.
- Email addresses or website links that look “off” (e.g., amaz0n.com).
- Unsolicited offers from strangers—especially involving money.
What To Do If They Get Caught in a Scam
Even with precautions, mistakes happen. Remind your child:
- Stop any payments immediately.
- Contact their bank or card company to block charges.
- Change passwords if accounts were compromised.
- Report the scam to their school’s IT or financial aid office, and to the FTC.
- Check credit reports and consider a fraud alert or a credit freeze if personal information was stolen.
Final Note for Parents
The best defense is awareness. Remind your student to slow down, ask questions, and verify before sharing personal or financial information. Let them know they can always reach out to you if something doesn’t feel right, it’s better to double-check than to risk becoming a victim.
Ready for a Back-to-School Legal Pack?
Our team can help you:
- Prepare all essential legal documents
- Review lease agreements
- Set up digital and financial protections
Call us at 407-512-4394 or schedule a consultation today to make sure your student is protected, from move-in day to graduation.
The attorneys at The Orlando Law Group help with all types of legal issues for homeowners and property owners in Orlando, Waterford Lakes, Altamonte Springs, Winter Garden, Lake Nona, St. Cloud, Kissimmee, and throughout Central Florida.
If you have questions about anything discussed in this article or other legal matters, give our office a call at 407-512-4394 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation to discuss your case. We have an office conveniently located at 12301 Lake Underhill Rd, Suite 213, Orlando, FL 32828, as well as offices in Seminole, Osceola and West Orange counties to assist you.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
Last Updated on August 20, 2025 by The Orlando Law Group
