If you have a college-age child, there’s probably a legal document sitting somewhere on your mental to-do list that you keep meaning to take care of: a Power of Attorney.
And if you’re like most parents, you know it’s important. You also know that once your child turns 18, you may not automatically be able to step in and help with financial or legal matters if something happens.
But getting the paperwork completed? That can feel like one more thing to coordinate.
The good news is that getting a College Power of Attorney notarized just became a whole lot easier.
Mama Bear Legal Forms now offers online notarization, which means you can go from “We really need to get this done” to “It’s done!” without printing paperwork, finding a local notary, or making another appointment.
And as a parent who has been through the college years, I know that anything that removes one more logistical headache is worth paying attention to.
From “We Need to Do This” to “Done”
Creating a College Power of Attorney can still take less than 10 minutes.
The biggest improvement is what happens after you create the document.
Instead of trying to coordinate your schedule with your college student’s schedule, finding a notary, and making sure your student has the correct paperwork, you can simply send your child a secure link.
Your student can then complete the notarization from their phone or laptop.
No printing.
No scanning.
No driving around looking for a notary.
And, perhaps most importantly, no putting it off for another six months because college life is busy.
Your Student Gets a Guided Experience
Let’s be honest. Handing your college student a stack of legal paperwork and saying, “Here, get this notarized,” isn’t always the most effective strategy.
Online notarization makes the process much more straightforward.
Once your student clicks the secure link, they’re guided through the process step by step. A licensed online notary joins the session and verifies their identity, just as a notary would during an in-person appointment.
If witnesses are required in your state, your student will be told ahead of time so there aren’t any last-minute surprises.
The goal is simple: make it easy enough that your busy college student actually finishes it.
Your Documents Are Stored for You
Once the notarization is complete, the documents are automatically delivered to your Mama Bear account and app.
That means you don’t have to worry about:
- Searching through old emails for the documents
- Keeping track of paper copies
- Asking your student to send them to you
- Wondering where you put them when you suddenly need them
Everything is stored in one place and ready to access and share when necessary.
And that’s really the point of doing this paperwork in the first place: you don’t want to be scrambling to find it during an emergency.
Especially Important If Your Student Goes Out of State
This is one area parents of college students need to pay particular attention to.
If your child attends college in another state, don’t assume that the paperwork you completed at home will automatically meet that state’s requirements.
Mama Bear Legal Forms provides state-specific documents, which is important because requirements can vary from state to state.
There’s also a nice bonus for families with students attending college away from home: a second state is included at no additional cost.
So if your student needs documents for both your home state and their college state, they can complete both during the same online notarization session.
That’s one less thing for you to figure out.
Why Online Notarization Makes Sense for College Families
Traditional notarization isn’t necessarily difficult—but it can become the reason something never gets finished.
You have to find a notary.
Your student has to be available.
Someone has to have the right documents.
And if your student is hundreds of miles away at college, coordinating all of that can become even more complicated.
Online notarization removes many of those barriers.
Your student can:
- Complete the process from wherever they are
- Work around their class and activity schedule
- Avoid printing and scanning documents
- Complete the process without you having to coordinate every step
For busy college students, and their equally busy parents, that convenience can make all the difference.
The $49 Convenience
Online notarization is available for $49.
For many families, that’s a small price to pay for avoiding the scheduling, driving, printing, scanning, and general hassle that can come with traditional notarization.
More importantly, you’re not just paying for convenience.
You’re getting the peace of mind that comes with knowing the documents have actually been completed and stored safely.
Because having a Power of Attorney sitting unfinished in your computer isn’t nearly as helpful as having one that’s completed and ready when you need it.
One More Thing You Can Check Off Your College To-Do List
I’ve always believed that some of the most important college preparation happens outside the college application itself.
Yes, we worry about grades, applications, scholarships, financial aid, dorm rooms, and all the other things that come with sending a child to college.
But once your child turns 18, there are also some very practical legal and financial matters parents need to think about.
A College Power of Attorney is one of them.
And now, thanks to online notarization, it’s easier to get it done.
You can create the document in just a few minutes, send your student a secure link, let them complete the notarization from their phone or laptop, and have the completed documents safely stored in your account.
That’s one more important item checked off your list and one less thing to worry about.
Ready to Get Started?
If a College Power of Attorney has been sitting on your “I really need to do this” list, this might be the nudge you need.
You can create a College Power of Attorney with Mama Bear Legal Forms, send the link to your student, and get the notarization completed without the usual hassle.
[Use the coupon code: “Parenting4CollegeMB20” here to get 20% off at checkout.]
Hopefully, you’ll never need to use the document.
But if you do, you’ll be very glad you took the time to get it done.
FAQ About Legal Documents
Do parents need a power of attorney for a college student?
Once a child turns 18, parents may no longer have the same legal authority they had when their child was a minor. A power of attorney can give parents the ability to handle certain financial or legal matters on their adult child’s behalf when necessary.
What is a college power of attorney?
A college power of attorney is a legal document that allows an adult student to designate someone, often a parent, to act on their behalf for specified financial or legal matters.
Can a college student complete a power of attorney online?
Depending on the provider and state requirements, the document can be created online and may be completed using online notarization. Mama Bear Legal Forms now offers online notarization for its College Power of Attorney.
Does my college student need a power of attorney if they live in another state?
It’s important to consider the laws and requirements of both your home state and your student’s college state. State-specific documents can help ensure you’re using the appropriate forms.
What other legal documents should college students have?
Parents should also consider documents such as a medical power of attorney or healthcare authorization, HIPAA authorization, and other documents that may allow them to assist their adult child when needed.
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