Online Signature and Notarization of Student Legal Docs
As a College Parents of America member, you have access to convenient remote online notarization services through our partnership with DocuSign eNotary. Whether your student needs documents notarized for study abroad programs, internships, or other college-related paperwork, this secure digital process makes it easy to get official notarization from anywhere.
1. READ THESE FIRST:
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Start with our Simple Form: This form has the basic information we will need to get started - contact information for the Student, Agent information, and Witness information. This information will be automatically inserted into your legal documents.
Scheduling Your Session: You'll receive an email invitation with all the details you need to join at your scheduled time.
What You'll Need: Before your session, make sure you have a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) and access to a computer or mobile device with a camera and microphone.
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Tech Setup: First, you'll authorize your camera and microphone to ensure a smooth connection. Don't worry—the system will walk you through this step by step.
ID Verification: You'll take photos of your government-issued ID, which are automatically checked for authenticity. This helps protect everyone involved and ensures your documents are properly secured.
Additional Security Questions: In some cases, you may be asked to answer a few questions based on public records to further verify your identity. This extra layer of security helps prevent fraud and protects your personal information.
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Joining the Session: Once your identity is confirmed, you'll join a certified notary public in a live video session right through your web browser—no special software needed.
Reviewing Your Documents: You and the notary will review the document together. Feel free to ask any questions you might have about the process or the paperwork itself.
Electronic Initialing & Signing: You'll electronically initial and/or sign the required fields on your document, just like you would with a pen on paper.
Official Notary Seal: The notary will then apply their official digital seal to your document, making it legally binding and complete.
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Secure Record Keeping: The entire session is recorded and a detailed audit trail is created to ensure everything is properly documented. This tamper-evident record provides an extra layer of legal protection.
Safe Document Storage: Your completed, notarized document and session recording are stored securely within the DocuSign system for future reference and record-keeping.
You're All Set: The notary will let you know when the session is complete, and you'll have your officially notarized document ready to use.
2. THEN FILL OUT THIS FORM:
Student Legal Documents FAQ
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A signed HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) authorization form is a permission slip that allows healthcare providers to disclose medical information to designated individuals, such as parents or trusted guardians. Without it, parents do not have automatic access.
The HIPAA Authorization form does not grant rights to make medical decisions on the student’s behalf, as in the case of a medical emergency when the student is incapacitated. For those rights, a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney is required.
The HIPAA Authorization form does not have to be notarized or witnessed.
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A Durable Medical Power of Attorney, signed and executed ahead of time, authorizes parents to make medical decisions on their child’s behalf, and guarantees access to their child’s medical records and the right to converse with healthcare providers on their child’s behalf.
By executing a Durable Medical Power of Attorney, parents are ensuring their right to make medical decisions for their child in case their child is unable to make those decisions, such as:
Make health care decisions, regarding treatment and providers, if your child is incapacitated.
Access protected private health information through HIPPA Authorization.
Obtain the right to acquire all necessary information from health care providers in both written and verbal communications.
Avoid court-appointed guardians.
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A Durable Financial Power of Attorney (FPOA), signed and executed ahead of time, enables parents to make financial, business, and legal decisions on their child’s behalf. The FPOA can provide that the power vests immediately after signing the document or that it vests only if the child becomes incapacitated or otherwise unable to act, due to inaccessibility related to travel, for example.
The FPOA enables the parent to sign tax returns, access bank accounts, pay bills, settle legal disputes, and interact with insurance companies and landlords as a surrogate for their child, among many other rights and abilities granted.
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A FERPA release grants parents access to information in the student's education record and protects that information from disclosure to third parties without parental consent.
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Yes, in most states your child must be at least 18 to validly sign powers of attorney. In Nebraska and Alabama your child must reach age 19.
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Your child's home state is the place where he or she lives permanently, and does things such as pay taxes, vote, receive mail and obtain a driver's license.
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While a power of attorney form executed in your home state is typically valid and honored in other states where your child attends college, having state-specific forms can be advantageous. This is because:
Most states prefer to see their own version of these legal documents.
Having state-specific forms for both your home state and the state where your child attends college can expedite the process in case of an emergency.
Therefore, it may be beneficial to obtain two sets of power of attorney documents – one for your home state and another for the state where your child's college is located. This proactive approach can ensure a smoother and more efficient process if you ever need to exercise your legal rights as a parent during an emergency situation involving your college student.
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The most common choice for agents in a power of attorney document is their parents. The legal requirement is that the named agent must be an adult, typically defined as someone who is at least 18 years of age in most states. When selecting agents, it's crucial to choose individuals who:
Know you well and understand your preferences and values.
Possess the competence and capability to make decisions on your behalf.
Align with your values, at least in terms of decision-making principles.
Inspire your complete trust to carry out your wishes faithfully.
Above all, the most important qualification for an agent is that you have unwavering faith in their ability and commitment to act in accordance with your best interests and desires. This trust is paramount when appointing someone to make important decisions on your behalf.
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Modifying a power of attorney is a straightforward process. You have the flexibility to amend or revoke a power of attorney at any time by following these simple steps:
Sign an updated version of the document, reflecting the desired changes.
Notify the appointed agents about the amendment or revocation.
Specifically, for a health care power of attorney:
Inform your designated agent about any modifications.
Additionally, notify your attending physician or other healthcare providers involved in your care about the changes.
This ability to easily update or cancel a power of attorney ensures that your wishes and directives remain current and accurately reflect your preferences as circumstances evolve.
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Powers of attorney prepared at College Parents don't have an expiration date. The documents only come to an end if the signer of the document revokes the power of attorney or passes away.
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Yes, if you are dealing with a health care provider or financial institution, a copy will work just as well as the original signed document.