When Shawnee Baker got the call from a Florida police officer while sailing off the coast of Maine, her heart dropped.
Her 19-year-old daughter, Baylie Grogan, a college sophomore at the University of Miami, had been in a tragic accident. Shawnee and her husband rushed to the hospital—only to find out they couldn’t access her medical records or make decisions about her care.
Why? Because Baylie was legally an adult—and had no estate planning documents in place.
Despite being her mother, Shawnee had no legal right to intervene. Under HIPAA privacy laws and state hospital policies, once a child turns 18, parents lose decision-making authority without a signed health care proxy or power of attorney.
Baylie never regained consciousness. She passed away six weeks later, after a painful series of medical and legal struggles that left her parents unable to advocate for her care—or even request the toxicology tests they believed could’ve changed the investigation.
Estate Planning Isn’t Just for the Elderly. It’s for Everyone 18 and Over.
If your child is heading to college, entering the workforce, or simply turning 18, here’s what you must do—now:
✅ Health Care Proxy – Lets someone make medical decisions if they can’t
✅ HIPAA Release – Grants access to medical information in an emergency
✅ Durable Power of Attorney – Allows someone to manage finances and legal matters
✅ Living Will – Outlines medical wishes if facing a life-threatening condition
These documents form the foundation of an estate plan—even for healthy, independent young adults.
Being a parent doesn’t automatically make you a legal guardian after 18.
Baylie wanted to be a neurosurgeon to help others. Now, her story is helping families realize a difficult truth: Without proper legal documents, even the most loving parents can be left powerless in a crisis.
Through her book “Baylie” and the Baylie’s Wish Foundation, Shawnee is raising awareness so other families don’t endure the same heartbreak.
Don’t wait. Talk to your estate planning attorney today.
Make sure your young adult has the documents in place to protect them—and give you the ability to step in when it matters most.
Because no family should ever hear, “We can’t let you decide—you’re not their legal representative.”