Short Answer
Yes. Because your child is an adult, the child generally must electronically sign and submit the engagement agreement personally. A parent may help review or organize the paperwork, but receiving the agreement does not authorize the parent to accept legal representation for the adult child. A different process may apply if a court-appointed guardian or properly authorized representative is involved.
Why the Adult Child Must Sign
An engagement agreement establishes the terms of the attorney-client relationship. It commonly identifies the client, describes the scope of the legal work, explains fees and expenses, and states responsibilities relating to communication and cooperation.
North Carolina law defines a minor as someone who has not reached age 18. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 48A-2, a person is no longer a minor after reaching 18. When an injured person is an adult and has legal capacity, that person ordinarily decides whether to hire a lawyer and accept the terms of the engagement.
The fact that a parent received the agreement does not change who the client is. It also does not give the parent authority to sign the adult child’s name, submit the agreement as though the child signed it, or make decisions about the personal injury claim.
What the Electronic Signature Confirms
By signing personally, the adult child confirms that they reviewed the agreement and chose to request the representation described in it. The signature also helps avoid uncertainty about who hired the firm and which claims the firm has agreed to handle.
The engagement agreement should be read before it is signed. Important provisions may address:
- Who the firm will represent.
- Which motor vehicle accident or injury claim is covered.
- How attorney fees and case expenses will be handled.
- What information the client must provide.
- How the client and firm will communicate.
- Whether related matters fall outside the representation.
- When the attorney-client relationship begins and how it may end.
If the adult child has a question about a provision, the child should ask the law firm for clarification before signing. A parent may participate in that discussion if the adult child wants the parent involved and the firm confirms how communications will be handled.
Can a Parent Still Help?
Yes. A parent can provide practical support without signing for the adult child. For example, the parent may help locate accident records, insurance correspondence, photographs, medical bills, and contact information for witnesses. The parent may also remind the child to review and submit the agreement.
However, the adult child is normally the client. That means the firm generally must look to the child for instructions and decisions. The child may also need to give permission before the firm can discuss confidential details of the claim with a parent. Being copied on an email or receiving the agreement does not necessarily provide that permission.
If the child wants the parent included in communications, the child should tell the firm directly. The firm may request written authorization and may explain limits on the parent’s role. Even with communication authorization, important decisions generally remain with the adult client.
When Someone Else May Have Signing Authority
A different procedure may be necessary if the adult child cannot legally act without an authorized representative. Examples may include a court-appointed guardian or an agent acting under a valid power of attorney that covers the relevant decision. The existence and scope of that authority must be reviewed rather than assumed.
A parent-child relationship by itself does not create signing authority after the child becomes an adult. If guardianship or power-of-attorney documents exist, provide complete copies to the law firm before anyone signs. The firm may need to determine who has authority, whether the adult child can participate, and whose signature the agreement requires.
How This Applies to the Engagement Agreement You Received
Here, the injured person is an adult who was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Although the parent also received the engagement agreement, the adult child must electronically sign and submit it personally. The parent should not sign the child’s name or complete the electronic signature process on the child’s behalf.
The child should use their own electronic signature and provide accurate contact information. After submission, keep a copy of the completed agreement and any confirmation message. The child should also confirm whether the firm has accepted the engagement and whether any additional documents are needed.
Information to Have Ready
The adult child should consider gathering the following materials when completing the engagement process:
- The complete engagement agreement and all attachments.
- The child’s current phone number, email address, and mailing address.
- The crash report or report number, if available.
- Insurance cards, claim numbers, and adjuster correspondence.
- Photographs, witness information, and vehicle information.
- Medical records, bills, and visit summaries already received.
- Any court order, guardianship document, or power of attorney that might affect signing authority.
- A copy of the signed agreement and electronic submission confirmation.
Preserving these materials can help the firm identify the client, understand the accident, and clarify the intended scope of representation.
When Wallace Pierce Law May Be Able to Help
Wallace Pierce Law may review who should sign the engagement agreement, explain its scope in plain language, and confirm what is needed to complete the electronic signing process. If the adult child wants a parent involved, the firm may also explain how communication authorization and confidentiality will be handled.
Once an engagement is properly completed and accepted, the firm may help organize accident documentation, communicate about the injury claim, and evaluate the next procedural steps. The available options depend on the facts, insurance information, documentation, and applicable deadlines.
