Companion guide
Turning 18
The months before an 18th birthday
Several things change hands on one birthday. This page is the list to go through a month or two before it.
Accounts to check
- Custodial (UGMA/UTMA) accounts: they pass to the child at the age the state sets, typically 18 or 21, up to 25. Charles Schwab, Acorns
- Teen checking: rules differ by bank. Capital One’s stays open past 18; Chase closes Chase First Banking by 25. Capital One, JPMorgan Chase Bank
- Teen investing: a Fidelity Youth Account has 60 days after the 18th birthday to convert. Fidelity Investments
- Custodial Roth IRA: the parent manages it until the child is an adult under state law, typically between 18 and 25. Fidelity Investments
Rights and records
- School records: FERPA rights move to the student at 18, or at the start of college if that’s earlier. Student Privacy Policy Office
- Credit reports: free from each of the three national bureaus, once a week, at AnnualCreditReport.com. Federal Trade Commission
- Credit cards: under 21, card companies generally need proof of the applicant’s own ability to pay, or a co-signer over 21. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Sources
- Schwab Custodial Account, Charles Schwab. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Acorns Early, Acorns. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Accounts for kids and teens, Capital One. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Chase family banking options, JPMorgan Chase Bank. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Fidelity Youth Account, Fidelity Investments. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Fidelity Roth IRA for Kids, Fidelity Investments. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- What is FERPA?, Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Free Credit Reports, Federal Trade Commission. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Can a credit card company consider my age when deciding to lend me a card?, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Checked Oct 19, 2026.