How Often Should I Update My Estate Plan?

Once you make an estate plan, it’s important to keep it updated, no matter where you are in life. Once you make your estate plan, don’t just put it away and forget about it for the next 20 years. Instead, you should stay proactive. Review and update your documents often to make sure your estate plan matches what you want.

When Should I Update My Estate Plan?

A good rule is to update your estate plan after major life events or regularly over time. If you’ve married, had a child, divorced, bought a house, or had any major life change, update your estate plan.

If you’re retired or haven’t had major changes in a few years, you should still review your estate plan.
Pick a time each year to review your estate plan and make sure it’s up to date. It may be a good way to start off each new year!

As you review your documents, consider the following questions:

1. Do I need to change my beneficiaries?
2. Do I need to change my personal representative?
3. Do I need to change my medical and financial agents?
4. Are new tax laws going to change the outcome of my plan?

If you are a parent of minor children, you should also make sure you are still satisfied with your appointed guardian and that they are still willing and able to care for your children if necessary.

Update Your Trust Information

A trust is a great tool for your estate plan, but it still needs regular maintenance. In fact, you should update a trust more often than a will-based plan.

1. In addition to asking yourself the questions above, you should also ask:
2. Have I acquired any new assets like financial accounts or real estate that need to be added to the trust?
3. Have my life circumstances changed, and will those changes affect how I want to distribute my trust?
4. Are my successor trustees still able to serve in that position?

[Related: Trust Funding: A Checklist for Funding Your Trust]

For a comprehensive estate planning review, download our 2025 Estate Planning Checklist.

Working with an Attorney Can Help

If you want to update your estate plan and don’t know where to start, don’t let the stress overwhelm you. Consulting with an experienced estate planning attorney is a great place to start. They can help with all parts of your estate plan. This includes choosing personal representatives, updating documents, and planning for the future.

Our team at Relational Estate & Elder Law can help you at every step. Whether you need to update your documents or create new ones, we’re here for you. If you want help creating your estate plan and keeping it updated, our Guardian program can assist. It’s designed to ensure your plan stays current and meets your needs every year.

If you’re ready to update your estate plan, or if you believe it’s time to draft a new one, we’d love to help. Contact us today!

At Relational Estate & Elder Law, we are passionate about bringing confidence and peace of mind about the future to residents in Winchester, Northern Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley. Our team of legal professionals specializes in estate planning, elder planning, and estate administration, and we love to come alongside our clients as they seek to protect themselves, their families, and their assets. With the right legal documents, we help them create plans for the future that accomplish their goals and allow them to rest easy.

Disclaimer: The information you obtain in this post is not, nor is intended to be, legal advice. This blog shares general best practices when navigating Virginia or West Virginia law, but you should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.