---
type: Concept
title: The YALE Plan (Young Adult Legal Essentials)
description: Nolan Law Firm's five-document package for young adults and parents of college students.
resource: https://nemolegal.com/young-adult-legal-essentials-yale-plan/
tags: [yale-plan, young-adults, ferpa, hipaa, power-of-attorney]
timestamp: 2026-06-18
jurisdiction: Missouri
author: Patrick Nolan
---

# Summary

The Young Adult Legal Essentials (YALE) Plan is a five-document package from Nolan Law Firm for young adults and the parents of college students. Once a child turns 18, parents lose automatic access to their medical and educational information and the authority to act in an emergency.

# What it includes

- Durable Power of Attorney (financial)
- Healthcare Power of Attorney
- Healthcare Directive
- FERPA release (education records)
- HIPAA authorization (medical records)

# Why it matters

These documents restore a parent's access by the young adult's consent, so a family is not locked out during a medical or academic crisis.

# Decision rule

If you have a child 18 or older, especially a college student, put the five YALE documents in place so you are not locked out of their medical and educational information in an emergency.

# Related

- [Powers of Attorney](/okf/estate-planning/powers-of-attorney.md)
- [About Nolan Law Firm](/okf/firm.md)