ADVICE TO DRIVE BY
3. If your child is taking a car to school , be sure to look at the car inspection date before she goes, especially if she’s going out of state. For example, if she’s going to school in Michigan and the inspection is due in November, you might want to go ahead and have the car inspected now. It will save her having to drive it back to New York mid-semester. Of course, all cars need to have the registration and insurance information in the vehicle. Be sure she knows where it is and update it when the insurance renews. 4. Also, if driving to school, there’s always a chance your child will be pulled over or receive some sort of ticket. Have a discussion about how to handle these situations. Simple parking tickets need to be paid so that the vehicle isn’t impounded or a registration suspended. And if he’s pulled over for a moving violation , make sure he knows what to do: Turn off any music playing and sit quietly, hands on the steering wheel. Don’t lean over to pull out any documentation, as the officer may misinterpret that action. Roll down the window and be polite and respectful in conversation. The correct answer to the question “Do you know why I pulled you over?” is a simple “No.” Listen carefully, respond politely, do not give consent to a search of the vehicle, and make sure they tell you what happened. No ticket should be signed and paid without a review. Students can unwittingly create a criminal record for themselves by doing so. And just say no to giving a fake ID to an officer. It is better to get a ticket for driving without a license than to be charged with being in possession of a forged official document.
Don’t forget about yourself! Sometimes, it can be a hard thing to do, especially for business owners and entrepreneurs. It can seem that there isn’t enough time in the world when you need to get stuff done. But there is. It drives us crazy when we get sidelined, but you have to remember to take a step back when necessary — and there are many times when it is necessary. Taking care of yourself can mean different things to different people. It might mean taking weekends off to spend time with family, making time for exercise, or simply giving yourself time to binge-watch a show on Netflix with some pizza. On this last point, I really have to thank my spouse, who’s been amazing through all of this. She’s helped me find the perspective that I needed to prioritize myself, making sure I took time to rest in order to recover and that I went to all of my doctor’s appointments. If I do nothing else right in life, I married the right person. I was able to sit down and have breakfast with my dear friend, Marci Goldfarb. I asked her for her pro tips for someone who has a child heading off to college this Fall. Marci is a good person to ask, as she practices motor vehicle law and sees a lot of young people in trouble, and she’s successfully launched three of her own kids through the college years. Here’s what I learned. 1. In most instances, your student is 18 or older, which means that in the eyes of the law, your baby is an adult. It also means that as an adult, you need her permission to make financial decisions and health care decisions if she’s unable to communicate. This means, before your child goes to school, have her execute a durable power of attorney appointing you her agent, and have her sign a health care proxy. In addition, many colleges have forms they want signed by students and parents about health care. Be sure to go to her college’s website and fill out the necessary paperwork. If there’s ever an emergency, having the right to act on your child’s behalf should never be a concern. 2. As parents know, college is not an inexpensive proposition. You will want to know how your son is doing with respect to his semester and year-end grades. As an adult, he doesn’t have to tell you. Similarly, now is the time to sign the paperwork the school requires to have grades disclosed to you as well. ... CONTINUED FROM COVER
It’s an exciting time for both you and your student. Make sure nothing interferes with it!
Marci can be reached at 855-MarciLaw (855-627-2452), or at marci@marcilaw.com.
Really, what this month’s message is all about is connections. Being a business owner and entrepreneur can be a lonely and stressful job. But being connected to friends, family, and our own selves allows us to grow and flourish — even when life throws a car at you.
P.S. Everyone needs to be friends with my good friends. Marci Goldfarb can be reached at marci@ marcilaw.com or 855-MarciLaw; Jarad Seigel can be reached at jarad.siegel@jlsesq.com or 516-590- 0550; and Theresa Steinkamp can be reached at tsteinkamp@cornerstonewa.com or 516-655-8481.
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