March Into Spring Cleaning – Maintaining Your Wills and Trusts

Spring is the season of renewal, and while you’re planning to declutter closets and organize your home, why not do the same for your finances? Estate planning isn’t a one-time task—it needs regular updates to stay effective.

Here’s how to refresh your estate plan this spring:

• Review Beneficiaries – Did you know that beneficiary designations override your will? Assets like life insurance and retirement accounts go to the named beneficiary—no matter what your will says. For example, if your will leaves everything to your husband but your life insurance lists your sister, she gets the payout. Keep your designations up to date!
• Update Legal Documents – Have you moved, married, divorced, or had children since creating your estate plan? Estate planning isn’t a +one-time task+—it should evolve with your life and legal changes. Regular updates ensure your will, trust, health care documents, and power of attorney reflect your current wishes and circumstances.
• Organize Papers – Storing your will in a safe deposit box can create unnecessary delays, as banks typically restrict access until probate is initiated—meaning your executor may not be able to retrieve it when needed. A better option is to keep your will in a secure, accessible location and ensure your executor or trustee knows where to find it. A better option is to keep your will in a secure, accessible location and ensure your executor or trustee knows where to find it.

We Can Help!

A little “spring cleaning” now can save your loved one’s time, stress, and money in the future. Ready for a refresh? Start by booking a Peace of Mind Planning Session. We’ll answer your questions and present your options, after reviewing your current documents. Then, if we decide we’re a good fit to work together, we’ll discuss next steps! The session is normally $450; mention this article and we’ll waive the fee!

Schedule Your Peace of Mind Planning Session