Texas residents who have created an estate plan may already feel as if they have made a great accomplishment in life. True, having a plan in place can help ensure that family members do not face unexpected difficulties after a loved one’s passing. However, it may be important to remember that updating a plan may be just as important as estate planning itself.
Without the proper updates to a will, serious issues could result when it comes time to probate that document. Therefore, individuals may want to periodically determine how their professional and personal lives have changed and understand what impacts those changes could have on an estate plan. In some cases, life changes could lead to inheritance modifications or other significant changes.
It is also important to review beneficiaries. If a person has insurance, retirement accounts or other funds that would pass directly to a beneficiary, he or she may want to ensure that the designated recipient still stands to act as beneficiary. Various life aspects could result in an individual needing to change beneficiaries, and for that reason, reviewing designations may prove useful.
Without the correct information in an estate plan, surviving family may face many probate issues. Therefore, reassessing important documents and determining whether updates are necessary could save time and effort later on. Interested Texas residents may wish to speak with experienced estate planning attorneys to better understand their options for reviewing plans and how modifications could prove beneficial. Additionally, if surviving family members are facing probate difficulties due to outdated plan information, legal counsel may also be able to help.
Source: lexology.com, “Your Mid-Year Estate Planning Checklist: 10 things you should be doing now“, Murtha Cullina, June 6, 2017