How to Deal with an Outdated Estate Plan
At Wakefield Law, we help clients from all walks of life with their estate planning needs. Trusts, wills, powers of attorney, deeds, and more are used to ensure that our clients wishes are respected and their assets are protected throughout their lifetimes and after their passing. Frequently, we hear from clients who have estate plans that were drafted years ago – they often have questions about whether their documents are compliant with current law, but also they need to make changes to their documents to reflect their current wishes. Changing the agents in charge of administration of your documents or updating how inheritance is handled in a plan are very common. We try to make handling those critical updates as easy and affordable as possible. Don’t wait on making updates – here’s why getting them done is so important:
Why Updates Matter
Your estate plan should evolve with your life. Common reasons to revisit your documents include:
Marriage, divorce, or remarriage
Birth or adoption of children or grandchildren
Changes in financial circumstances
New real estate or business interests
Shifts in tax laws or estate planning strategies
Desire to change beneficiaries, executors, or trustees
Even if none of these apply, we recommend reviewing your plan every 3–5 years to ensure it still aligns with your goals, current wishes, and legal updates.
We handle every aspect of estate plan maintenance with precision and care:
Document Updates & Amendments: Whether you need to revise your Will, update your Advance Medical Directive, or amend your Trust, we prepare clear, legally sound updates that reflect your current wishes.
Trust Funding: A trust is only effective if it’s properly funded. We assist with retitling assets, updating beneficiary designations, and ensuring your trust owns what it’s supposed to—so your plan works when it matters most.
Coordinating with Financial Advisors: We collaborate with your financial professionals to align your estate plan with your broader financial and tax strategies.
If it’s been a few years since you last looked at your estate plan—or if you’re not sure whether your trust is properly funded—let’s talk. Updating your plan doesn’t have to be complicated, and with our help, it won’t be. We offer free consultations and flat-fee arrangements for estate planning services. Give us a call to see if we can help – 703.771.9740.