Turning 18 doesn't come with a manual. One day you're a teenager, the next you're a legal adult who can sign contracts, vote, open accounts in your own name and make your own medical decisions. That's exciting. It also means a handful of new responsibilities land on you at once, and nobody hands you the list.
So here's the list. These are the most common things to do when you turn 18 in the U.S., grouped so you can knock them out in a weekend or two. Parents, this works for you too: go through it together instead of handing it over as homework.
A quick, honest note before we start: legal rules vary by state. Where something depends on where you live, we say so. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
The free turning 18 checklist
Print this page or copy the list into your notes app. Check things off as you go.
- Register with Selective Service, if it applies to you.
- Register to vote (or confirm your pre-registration went through).
- Make sure you have your own copies of your key ID documents.
- Get a state ID or driver's license that's current and in your legal name.
- Open a bank account in your own name, or take over the one you share with a parent.
- Check your credit report, even if you think you don't have one.
- Learn how your health insurance works and carry your card.
- Decide who can talk to your doctors if you can't (HIPAA authorization).
- Name someone to make medical decisions if you can't (healthcare proxy).
- Think about a financial power of attorney.
- Decide what your parents can see from your school (FERPA release, for college students).
- Write down your emergency contacts and basic health info.
- Set up a simple monthly budget.
- Lock down your digital life: phone passcode, two-step verification, recovery contacts.
- Put copies of everything in one place, and tell one trusted person where.
Now the details on each.
Civic and ID basics
Selective Service
Most men living in the U.S., including many immigrants, are required to register with the Selective Service System between ages 18 and 25. Registering is not enlisting; it's a list. Registration is fast and can be done online at sss.gov, which also explains who is and isn't required to register. Some federal programs and jobs check for it, so it's worth doing promptly.
Register to vote
If you're a U.S. citizen, you can vote in federal elections at 18. Many states let you pre-register at 16 or 17, so check whether you're already on the rolls. Vote.gov points you to your state's official registration page. Deadlines and ID rules vary by state.
Your own copies of key documents
Know where your birth certificate, Social Security card and passport (if you have one) are kept. You don't need to carry them. You do need to be able to get to them for a first job, a lease or financial aid. Many families keep originals at home and give the new adult copies, which is a reasonable setup.
A current state ID or driver's license
Check the expiration date and make sure the name matches your other documents. If you plan to fly domestically, ask your DMV whether your ID is REAL ID compliant.
Money
A bank account in your name
If your account was opened as a custodial or joint account with a parent, ask the bank what changes at 18. Many people this age start with a basic checking account with no monthly fee and a savings account next to it.
Check your credit report
You can get free credit reports from the three national credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site. At 18 you may not have a report at all, and that's normal. If you do have one and you never opened credit, that's worth looking into, since kids' identities are sometimes misused.
A simple budget
Write down what comes in and what goes out each month. That's it. You can get fancy later. If you're getting your first credit card, the most useful habit is paying the full statement balance on time, every time.
Health and "what if" paperwork
This is the part most families miss. Before 18, parents can usually get medical and school information and make decisions. After 18, privacy belongs to the young adult. If you're in an accident, a hospital may not be able to share much with your parents unless you've put your wishes in writing.
Health insurance
Under federal law, you can generally stay on a parent's health plan until age 26. Learn the name of your plan, carry your card (or a photo of it), and know which urgent care or clinic near your school or job is in network.
HIPAA authorization
A HIPAA authorization is a form that lets your doctors share your health information with the people you name. It doesn't give anyone decision-making power. It just lets them be told what's going on.
Healthcare proxy
Depending on your state, this may be called a healthcare proxy, healthcare power of attorney or medical power of attorney. It names someone to make medical decisions for you only if you can't make them yourself. Some states combine it with an advance directive. Forms and signing rules (witnesses, notary) vary by state, so use your state's official form or ask an attorney.
Financial power of attorney
This lets someone you trust handle money matters, like talking to your bank or paying a bill, if you're unable to. It's more powerful than the health documents, so think about who you trust with it and whether you want it to take effect right away or only if you're incapacitated. Rules vary by state.
FERPA release (for college students)
Once you're 18 or in college, your school generally won't share your records with your parents without your written consent. Most colleges have their own release form, often in the student portal. You decide what to share, if anything.
We go deeper on these documents, including how to talk about them as a family, in What Documents Does Your 18-Year-Old Need?
Emergency contacts and health basics
Write down your emergency contacts, allergies, medicines and any conditions a doctor should know about. A wallet card works, and so does the medical ID feature on most phones. Don't include your Social Security number.
Digital life and organizing
Lock down your accounts
Use a passcode on your phone, turn on two-step verification for email and banking, and set up account recovery options you'll actually have access to. A password manager makes this much easier. If you want to plan who could access your accounts in an emergency, our digital legacy checklist walks through it.
Put it all in one place
Keep copies of signed forms, your insurance card, ID and contacts together, digitally and on paper. Tell one trusted person where to find them. Never write passwords or full account numbers on paper; write where access lives instead.
For parents: how to bring it up
Lead with questions, not a lecture. "If something happened at school, who would you want the hospital to call?" goes over better than "You need to sign these." Make it about respect for their new independence, which it is. Pick a low-stress moment, not move-in day.
Keep your medical information in one place
For the legal documents, use your state's official forms. For your medical information, the Family Health Binder: Fillable + iPad Edition ($29) keeps medicines, allergies, conditions, doctors and insurance in one binder, every page in English and Spanish.
And to have the essentials ready in an emergency, get the free ER-Ready Kit: the one-page Emergency Health Summary, the "Where should I go?" guide and interpreter wallet cards, in English and Spanish.
Not sure where to start? Take the free 2-minute Readiness Score quiz.
The Ambos Health team
General information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and forms vary by state; use your state's official forms or talk to an attorney.