When should I review or update my estate plan?

Many people review an estate plan every few years and after a major life, family, financial, or legal change. Common review events include marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, the death of a named person, a major move, or a large asset change. A licensed attorney can advise whether a particular event calls for a change.

General information

• A beneficiary form can become outdated even when the will is current.
• A trust schedule and title records must match actual property.
• Law changes may affect old wording or signing methods.

Service steps to consider

1. Reviewing people, property, and beneficiary forms.
2. Considering replacement of outdated contact details.
3. A licensed attorney can provide advice when the legal effect of a change is uncertain.

Quick check

• Has a person, asset, or address changed?
• Do all account forms match the plan?
• Can the right person find the current forms?

How Complete Wills can help

Complete Wills offers document updates through its published update service and can help customers access or revise eligible online documents. Support cannot decide whether a life event legally changes an existing document. Only a state-licensed attorney can provide that analysis. Customer support can explain website features and questionnaire fields, but it cannot choose documents, people, distributions, or legal terms, interpret a completed document, or explain how the law applies to a person's facts. Only a separately engaged licensed attorney may provide legal advice within the attorney's engagement.

Important limits

• Risk: writing changes on a signed will or trust while assuming they are valid. A licensed attorney can advise about a properly executed amendment or replacement.
• After a death, the executor, trustee, family, and experts must follow the controlling documents, account contracts, court rules, and tax law. This article gives general information only. A licensed attorney can explain how state law applies to a specific estate plan or document.