When should you update an estate plan?
Life changes, beneficiary designations, and state-law differences can all make a review worthwhile.
Review after major life changes
Marriage, divorce, a birth, a death, a move, a new business, or a material change in assets can affect the assumptions behind an estate plan. A review can help identify documents, titles, and beneficiary designations that may need attention.
Look beyond the will
Trusts, retirement accounts, insurance policies, jointly owned property, powers of attorney, and health-care documents can work alongside a will. An effective review considers how those pieces fit together rather than treating any one document in isolation.
Ask state-specific questions
Signing requirements, probate rules, taxes, and default inheritance rules vary by state. A licensed attorney can explain how the current rules apply to your family and whether documents prepared in another state should be updated.