It is recommended that you review your estate plan at year’s end. The end of the year is a logical time to note important life events that have taken place over the past 12 months or may affect your plan.
However, with a life shock as monumental as the COVID-19 pandemic occurring in 2020, you might want to get an earlier start on reviewing your estate planning documents to ensure that they’re up to date — especially if you haven’t looked closely at them in a number of years.
Potential revisions
There are a wide variety of life changes that typically trigger the need to revise an estate plan. A few that come to mind in light of this year’s crisis include the illness or disability of you, your spouse or another family member, or the death of a spouse or another family member. On a happier note, the birth or adoption of a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild may necessitate changes. A child or grandchild reaching the age of majority is another common event.
If you married, divorced, or remarried, you might need to revise your estate plan. The sale or purchase of a principal residence or second home could also necessitate action. Other oft-cited examples include your or your spouse’s retirement, receipt of a large gift or inheritance, or any sizable changes in the value of assets. It’s also important to review your estate plan when there’ve been changes in federal or state income tax or estate tax laws.
Will and powers of attorney
As part of your estate plan review, closely examine your Will, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives. If you have minor children, your Will should designate a guardian to care for them should you die prematurely, as well as make certain other provisions, such as creating trusts to benefit your children until they reach the age of majority, or perhaps even longer.
A durable power of attorney authorizes someone to handle your financial affairs if you’re disabled or otherwise unable to act. Likewise, a durable medical power of attorney authorizes someone to handle your medical decision making if you’re disabled or unable to act. The Powers of Attorney expire upon your death.
Typically, these Powers of Attorney are coordinated with a Living Will and other health care directives. A Living Will spells out your wishes concerning life-sustaining measures in the event of a terminal illness. It says what measures should be used, withheld, or withdrawn. Changes in your family or your circumstances might cause you to want to change beneficiaries, guardians, or power-of-attorney agents you’ve previously named.
Peace of mind
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, many people’s thoughts have turned to the importance of family and economic security. Updating and revising your estate plan today can provide peace of mind. We can help you determine whether any revisions are needed.