Existing Plan Review

Your estate plan is a snapshot of your life and wishes at the moment it's created. When major life events occur, that snapshot can quickly become outdated, potentially leaving your loved ones with unintended outcomes, unnecessary court involvement, or decisions that no longer reflect your current reality.

Reviewing and updating your plan after significant changes is not a sign that something was "wrong" the first time; it's simply making sure your plan continues to protect the people and values that matter most to you right now.

You should update (or at least review) your estate plan promptly after any of the following life transitions:

Loss of a spouse — Your surviving spouse may no longer be the best choice for certain roles (executor, trustee, guardian, agent under power of attorney), or the plan may need to be adjusted to protect children from a prior relationship, provide for stepchildren, or redirect assets in a way that honors your joint intentions.

Divorce or separation — Most people do not want an ex-spouse to remain as guardian, executor, trustee, beneficiary, or decision-maker for finances and healthcare. Failing to update can leave your former spouse with significant legal authority or inheritance rights—outcomes almost no one intends.

Remarriage — A new marriage often requires rethinking how assets, inheritance, and guardianship are handled, especially if you have children from a previous relationship. Without updates, your new spouse may not receive what you intend, or your children may be unintentionally disinherited or left vulnerable.

Birth or adoption of children — New children need to be added to guardianship nominations, beneficiary designations, and any trusts. Without updates, a court may have to decide who raises them, and assets may pass in ways that don't protect or provide for the newest family members.

Children reaching adulthood — Once children turn 18, they are no longer minors. You may want to remove them from guardianship provisions, add them as co-trustees or successor agents, give them access to funds at a later age, or adjust distributions now that they can legally manage their own affairs.

Significant changes in assets — A large inheritance, sale of a business, purchase of major property, substantial investment gains, new retirement accounts, or changes in financial circumstances often warrant revisiting how assets are titled, who manages them, and how they're distributed to avoid tax issues, family conflict, or unintended distributions.

Updating your estate plan after these events brings clarity, prevents surprises, reduces the risk of court intervention, and gives you renewed peace of mind that your plan matches your current life and priorities.