An Attorney's Guide to Your Evolving Estate Plan: Set-It-and-Forget-It Won't Work

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Editor's note: This is the fourth article in a monthly step-by-step guide for getting your financial house in order. We've already brought you info on compiling your net worth statement, asset titling and beneficiary designations and the importance of powers of attorney. For July, we're taking a deep dive into wills, trusts and related documents.

Even the best-drafted estate plan isn't "set it and forget it." Your life changes over time — with marriages, births, moves and wealth accumulation — and your estate plan should evolve accordingly.

To ensure your wishes are properly executed and your loved ones are protected, it's essential to revisit your will, trusts and related documents regularly, ideally every few years or after major life events.

The Kiplinger Building Wealth program handpicks financial advisers and business owners from around the world to share retirement, estate planning and tax strategies to preserve and grow your wealth. These experts, who never pay for inclusion on the site, include professional wealth managers, fiduciary financial planners, CPAs and lawyers. Most of them have certifications including CFP®, ChFC®, IAR, AIF®, CDFA® and more, and their stellar records can be checked through the SEC or FINRA.

New ZIP code

If you relocate to a different state, your existing estate plan documents may no longer align with local laws. Estate and probate rules vary widely across state lines, and some offer tax benefits — or pitfalls — that could materially affect your planning.

It's advisable to meet with an attorney in your new state of residence to learn the nuances related to transferring assets in that state.

Changing circumstances

As you get older, your wishes are likely to be impacted by developments in your personal life, such as marriages, births, growing older and deaths.

For instance, if you have younger children, one of the most important decisions you make is who to appoint as a guardian if you pass away while your children are minors.

Your selection may change as children age or if the original guardian is no longer the best fit due to health, location or personal circumstances.

Likewise, you may decide to alter the executor (or personal representative) of your will or trustee of your trust. Any number of circumstances can influence this decision, such as the person's availability, impartiality, proximity, financial acumen, mental faculty or own situation.

If your estate grows in complexity, you might consider a professional executor rather than a family member or trusted friend.

For insight on how to weigh your options in selecting a trustee, please see our article Choosing Your Trustee: These Are the Common Options.

New assets

As your assets grow, your estate plan should keep pace. A second home, a valuable collection or even digital assets like cryptocurrency should be accounted for in your will or trust if you want a specific person to receive a particular asset.

If you purchase additional property, for example, you will want to make clear who inherits it and make sure you understand how it will be transferred. Clarity here can spare your heirs confusion and ensure your intentions are honored.

If you've established a trust, you should consider drafting a pour-over will, a separate legal document that ensures any remaining assets not explicitly named in your will transfer to the trust after you pass away.

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While pour-over wills must still go through the probate process, they serve as a mechanism for passing all your assets to your intended beneficiaries.

Regulatory environment

Tax laws and estate regulations shift more often than many realize and changes can have a material impact on your estate plan.

Having an attorney review your documents through a current legal lens ensures your plan remains not just valid, but optimal.

Make updates a habit

An estate plan is not a one-time task — it's a set of living documents that should evolve along with your life circumstances.

As your family grows, your wealth expands, or your location changes, taking the time to revisit your will, trusts and related documents and plans helps ensure your intentions are honored and your loved ones are protected.

Regular check-ins with a trusted adviser can help you stay ahead of legal changes, avoid costly oversights and bring confidence that your legacy will be carried out just as you intended.

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.