By Phoebe Stone, JD, MA (Bioethics)

Young people who have recently reached the age of majority may not yet be established financially or professionally, and many may be immature and naive. In the eyes of the law, however, they are considered adults. Adulthood, often marked by the 18th birthday, can represent a huge shift in family dynamics. It is a significant milestone in the social and emotional life of a family because adulthood represents independence. It is often the age when children move away from home to pursue postsecondary education (i.e., anything after high school) or live apart from their families for the first time. Departure for college and/or reaching the age of majority are also legally significant milestones because when these events occur in the lives of young adults, they become responsible for many of their own financial and healthcare decisions. Young adults who have reached the age of majority are protected by various privacy laws in areas where parents or guardians were once responsible for making decisions for them and were granted open access to information. 

We have recently seen significant legal developments in estate planning, elder and special needs law, and business law, including the following: 

• The US Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the mandatory repatriation tax 
• The New York Appellate Division upheld the constitutionality of a minimum spending requirement for nursing homes 
• A federal court decided a preliminary injunction on enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission’s nationwide ban of noncompete agreements  

To ensure that you stay abreast of these changes, we have highlighted these and other noteworthy developments and analyzed how they may impact your estate planning, elder and special needs law, and business law practices.

Some attorneys decide to practice estate planning right after graduating from law school. Others practice in other areas, only to become curious about transitioning fully or partially into estate planning. Most attorneys who make this transition feel great satisfaction and little or no regret about making this career shift. There are many reasons why estate planning is such a rewarding practice area and many additional reasons why now could be the ideal time to make the switch.