Here is what most families don't realize ⤵️ It is easy to assume that if you have always been your child's caregiver and they continue to need support, you will always have the right to make decisions for them... BUT, that is not how the law works! The moment your child turns 18 they are legally an adult. That means you no longer have automatic rights to make medical, financial, or legal decisions on their behalf (and yes, that includes signing their IEP!), even if your child has significant support needs. And the situations where this catches families off guard are serious... A hospital may not be able to share medical information with you or allow you to make treatment decisions. A bank won't let you access your child's accounts. Programs and services may require your child's own signature. In an emergency, providers may work with you informally but they are not legally required to. And if you start the conservatorship process at 18, you are waiting months for it to be finaliz...