What Can We Learn From Storm Reid?

Child actress Storm Reid has been making her parents proud since she was 3 years old, making her major film debut when she was 10 years old. Reid received her undergraduate degree from USC School of Dramatic Arts with a minor in African American Studies in May of 2025. She was able to balance her college education alongside a full-time acting and producing career (such nachas!)

So, what can we learn from this child prodigy?

We can discuss the estate planning needs of young adults. Yes, even when a young adult is mature enough to work, earn money, travel, sign contracts, and attend college, the law still draws a bright line at adulthood. Until someone is 18, they are not considered an “adult” and cannot sign documents or really have any assets. However, once someone reaches the ripe age of 18, they are now adults and their parents stop having automatic access to their children’s school records, medical information, or financial decision-making authority. 

What’s a helicopter parent (or in my case a tiger-mom) to do?

We draft an estate plan for these neophytes. For a college-aged kid, the planning package consists of:

• Health Care Proxy and Living Will — lets the parent make medical decisions if the student cannot and identifies what those decisions are.
• Durable Power of Attorney — lets the parent help with finances, leases, banking, insurance, car issues, and legal matters.
• Last Will – appoints the personal representative and allocates estate assets so the universe doesn’t have to guess.
• FERPA Release — (not to be confused with FIRPTA!) lets the school disclose grades, academic status, tuition/billing, disciplinary, and education records to the parent.

So, there you have it. We learn that even though your child is not acting their way through their college experience, they can still benefit from an estate plan. We also learn that I’m so proud of my children!! 😊