Review Your Estate Plan for Peace of Mind

Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?

Life changes can quickly render an estate plan obsolete. Whether you've experienced a significant life event or just haven't reviewed your plan in years, it's crucial to ensure your documents still align with your wishes. Outdated plans can lead to unnecessary complications and stress for your family. At Aligned Life and Legacy Law, we specialize in keeping your estate plan current and effective, offering peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Situations That Necessitate a Review

Common Reasons for Plan Reviews

  • Marriage or Divorce: Changes in marital status can significantly impact your estate plan.
  • New Children or Grandchildren: Ensure they are included and protected under your plan.
  • Inheritance or Asset Changes: Major financial changes should be reflected in your estate planning documents.
  • Relocation: Moving to a new state can affect the legal validity of your plan.
  • Health Concerns: New diagnoses or health changes may require adjustments to your healthcare directives.

What Our Estate Plan Checkup Includes

Our estate plan checkup is a thorough review process designed to identify and address any gaps or outdated elements in your current plan. We take the time to understand your unique circumstances and ensure your documents reflect your current wishes. This process includes a detailed analysis of your will, trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, and other documents.

How We Help Correct These Mistakes

Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes

  • Not Updating After Life Events: Plans should be revised after any significant life change.
  • Ignoring State Law Differences: State laws vary, and your plan should comply with your state of residence’s law. We practice in Texas, Missouri, and California.
  • Overlooking Beneficiary Designations: Ensure beneficiary designations on all accounts are current. This is easy to overlook, but outdated beneficiary designations on non-probate assets (like life insurance and investment accounts) can unintentionally override your estate plan.
  • Neglecting Digital Assets: Include digital assets in your estate plan to avoid complications.
  • Failing to Communicate Your Plan: Discuss your plans with loved ones to prevent future disputes. We can help by providing a family meeting to review your estate plan at your request.

We provide expert guidance to help you navigate these common pitfalls. We offer personalized advice tailored to your family's needs, ensuring every aspect of your estate plan is kept up-to-date and legally sound. By addressing these issues proactively, we help you and your loved ones avoid unnecessary stress and complications.

Estate Planning Services

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FAQS

Common Questions About Plan Reviews

  • How often should I review my estate plan?

    We recommend that we review your estate plan together every three years, or after any major life event.

  • What documents are reviewed during the process?

    We review your current will, trust, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and any other estate planning documents you have in place to ensure they reflect your current wishes and pinpoint where changes may need to be made.

  • Can you help if I have an outdated plan from another state?

    Yes, we can revise and update plans to comply with local laws and your current circumstances. We practice in Texas, Missouri, and California.

  • What if I need to add a new beneficiary?

    We will review options with you, from a simple amendment to your plan or updating beneficiary designations, to a revised will or a restatement of your trust, to properly reflect your current intentions.

  • Is there a fee for the initial consultation?

    We offer a complimentary 15-minute discovery call to discuss your needs and how we can assist you. The cost for a plan review can be credited toward an updated plan in most circumstances.