When people finish setting up a trust, will, or power of attorney, there’s a natural temptation to toss the binder on a high shelf, brush off their hands, and say, “Glad that’s done forever.”
I get it. Estate planning deals with heavy topics, and crossing it off your to-do list feels like a massive relief.
But as an estate planning attorney, I view the signing meeting not as the end of our relationship, but as just one more step in the process. One of the most valuable services we provide is reviewing your estate plan on a regular basis. I encourage every client to schedule a plan review at least once every three years.
If your documents are already drafted and sitting safely in a folder, why is this regular review so critical? It comes down to three things: life changes, law changes, and clarity.
1. Life Changes (Even the Subtle Ones)
A lot can happen in 3 years. Even Dave Ramsey recommends reviewing your estate planning documents periodically, especially after significant life changes or changes in the law.
While major life events like marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, or receiving an inheritance are obvious reasons for updating your estate plan, smaller, quieter life shifts happen all the time without triggering an alarm bell.
During a three-year review, we look at questions like:
Your Decision-Makers: Is the person you named as your executor or trustee three years ago still the best fit today? Maybe they moved across the country, retired, or are dealing with their own health issues.
Your Assets: Did you buy new real estate, open additional retirement accounts, purchase life insurance, start a business, or accumulate valuable digital assets? We also review whether your beneficiary designations still align with your wishes. That’s especially important because beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies generally control who receives those assets, regardless of what your will says.
Your Beneficiaries: Has a child grown into an adult who can now handle money outright? Has a loved one developed medical or financial vulnerabilities that require extra protection?
Drafting an estate plan is like packing a suitcase when you don’t know the destination. I pack layers that work for Alaska or Hawaii, so you’re covered no matter what. A major life change doesn’t always mean buying a new suitcase, but taking five minutes to check what’s inside gives you total peace of mind.
For example, I recently worked with a young couple who had children but wanted more. Instead of listing their children by name – which would have accidentally left out future kids – we packed the ‘suitcase’ with flexible language for however many children they may have. Sure enough, they just welcomed a new baby. Because I knew them and they were willing to talk to me about their hopes and dreams, I was able to draft their plan so that the baby’s future was already protected without them having to pay to rewrite the whole plan.
2. Law Changes (The Rules Move, Even If You Don’t)
Changes in state law or federal tax rules happen regularly, and they can directly impact how your legal documents perform in the real world.
Over any three-year period, statutory language evolves, court rulings shape how specific provisions are interpreted, and tax laws may change. For some families, adjustments to the federal estate tax exemption could influence long-term planning strategies.
Even when your documents remain legally valid, banks, title companies, and medical providers are often hesitant to accept older powers of attorney without updated statutory language or recent reaffirmations. Sitting down every three years helps ensure your plan remains synchronized with today’s legal landscape.
As part of your initial estate planning fee, you’ll receive an invitation to review your documents with me every three years. Providing you with reminders and discussing legal changes helps you evaluate whether any changes in the law affect your plan in a way that would make you want to make adjustments to your plan.
3. More Chances to Truly Understand Your Plan
The initial estate planning process can feel like drinking from a firehose. In those first few weeks, you’re digesting complex legal concepts while making emotional decisions about your family’s future. It’s completely normal to leave your meetings focused on one specific goal – like making sure your children are cared for – while glossing over other important parts of the plan.
That’s why we don’t just rely on legal text. During our initial design meeting, we walk through your entire plan using a visual flowchart. This diagram maps out exactly what happens to your assets and family under different life scenarios, giving you a clear mental picture of how your plan actually functions.
Three years later, the emotional dust has settled. When we meet for your routine review, you aren’t under the stress of building a plan from scratch. We pull out that original flowchart alongside your initial asset inventory and design choices. Having that baseline makes it effortless to compare where you were then versus where you are now. We revisit concepts you may have forgotten and answer questions that didn’t occur to you the first time around.
It transforms your estate plan from a mysterious stack of legal papers into a living tool you understand and feel confident using.
4. Sometimes Nothing Has Changed… And That’s Good News
Reviews can confirm that nothing needs to change. That’s actually a great outcome.
Regular reviews provide peace of mind that your documents still reflect your wishes, your assets remain properly coordinated, and the people you’ve chosen to act on your behalf are still the right people for the job. A review isn’t about finding problems. It’s about making sure your estate plan continues to protect the people and property that matter most.
Because this 3-year review is built into your initial plan cost, there’s no pressure or hidden fees. If nothing needs to be updated, we simply use that time to dive deeper into any part of your plan you’re curious about, ensuring you walk away with absolute confidence in how everything works.
The Takeaway: Maintenance Is Where the Protection Lives
An estate plan isn’t a static product you buy off a shelf. It’s an ongoing strategy. Just like you wouldn’t drive a car for years without changing the oil or checking the brakes, you shouldn’t let your legal safety net sit unexamined while your life and the law keep moving.
If it’s been more than three years since you’ve reviewed your trust, will, or power of attorney, now is a great time to schedule a plan review. Together, we can ensure your plan still reflects your family, your assets, and current law so it continues protecting what matters most for years to come. Take advantage of our complimentary 15-minute introductory call to get started.
This material was created by Packsaddle Law PLLC for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as tax, legal, or investment advice. For legal advice tailored to your specific situation, please consult a qualified attorney.