Most people sign their estate plan and file it away. Five years later, their kids are older, their home is worth more, and the trustee they named moved to Arizona. The plan still exists, but it no longer works. At Jordan & White, LLC, we help clients protect what matters today and build plans that continue to work as life evolves. We also believe an estate plan needs ongoing attention, not a single signing. We call this review process Keeping It Great ™, because each check-in makes sure your plan still fits your life. This article explains how often to review your documents and what events should prompt timely updates.
The General Guideline: Regular Review Intervals
A good rhythm for most people is a full review every three to five years. This timeline helps catch changes in your family, finances, or Massachusetts law before small issues turn into bigger ones.
A review is simply checking whether your plan still fits your life. It does not mean rewriting your will or trust from scratch. That only happens if something material has changed. Many clients discover that their plan still works with only minor adjustments.
During a checkup, look at your will, trusts, and advance directives to confirm they match your current wishes. If your documents name people for important roles, confirm that each person is still willing and able to serve.
When you sit down to review, start with this short list:
● Will and codicils
● Any revocable or irrevocable trusts and how they are funded
● Durable power of attorney and health care proxy
● HIPAA release and any end-of-life instructions
A short meeting and a few small tweaks can keep your plan aligned with your goals.
Key Life Events That Should Trigger an Immediate Review
If any of these triggers apply to your situation, schedule a review as soon as possible. A short meeting now prevents confusion, court delays, and unintended consequences later.
Marriage, Divorce, or Remarriage
Marriage, divorce, or remarriage can reshape your plan overnight. Update your will or trust provisions, revise beneficiary forms, and confirm how major assets are titled. In Massachusetts, provisions for an ex-spouse in a will are revoked automatically, but retirement accounts and life insurance require manual changes.
Family Expansion
The birth or adoption of a child or grandchild calls for updated guardianship nominations and financial planning for minors. Many families use a trust to manage funds for education and long-term needs.
Significant Asset Shifts
Buying or selling real estate, starting or selling a business, or receiving an inheritance can shift your entire plan. Confirm assets are titled properly and review any tax implications or business succession instructions.
Relocation
Moving into or out of Massachusetts requires a review. Different states have different rules for wills, trusts, and taxes. A quick check ensures your documents still operate correctly.
New Health Diagnosis
A new diagnosis or serious injury is a strong signal to revisit your powers of attorney and health care proxy. You may want to add care instructions or adjust financial permissions for your agents.
Death of a Beneficiary or Fiduciary
If someone named in your plan passes away, update roles and backup choices promptly. This avoids delays and court involvement later.
The table below gives a helpful snapshot of common triggers and typical actions.
Life Events That Trigger an Estate Plan Review
| Trigger | What to Review | What Happens If You Don’t Update |
| Marriage | Will, trusts, beneficiary forms, property titles | A new spouse may receive nothing under your will, or may receive everything under intestacy laws—neither may match your intentions |
| Divorce | All documents naming the former spouse, retirement accounts, and life insurance | Ex-spouse may still control healthcare decisions, inherit assets, or serve as executor despite the divorce |
| Birth or Adoption | Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary designations | Courts decide who raises your children; inheritance passes to minors outright at 18 with no protection or guidance |
| Large Asset Change (home purchase, business sale, inheritance received) | Trust funding, property titles, tax planning, and distribution schedules | New assets may pass through probate, bypass your trust entirely, or trigger unexpected estate taxes |
| Relocation (especially across state lines) | Document validity under the new state law, trustees and agents, property titles | Your will or trust may not comply with new state requirements; powers of attorney may not be recognized |
| Health Diagnosis or Serious Injury | Health care proxy, power of attorney, HIPAA release, care instructions | Family members can’t access medical information or make treatment decisions; financial matters stall during incapacity |
| Death of Named Person (beneficiary, trustee, executor, or agent) | Backup agents, contingent beneficiaries, trustee succession | Court appoints someone you wouldn’t have chosen; distributions fail or create disputes; estate administration delays |
Massachusetts Estate Tax Considerations
Massachusetts has its own estate tax, with a threshold of two million dollars for dates of death in 2023 and after. This threshold is lower than the federal level, so many families fall closer to it than they expect.
Tax laws change over time, and a plan that worked five years ago may not be the best fit today. If your estate is trending toward the threshold, timing and structure can make a meaningful difference.
Common planning moves include:
● Using revocable or irrevocable trusts to manage how and when assets pass
● Making lifetime gifts to reduce the taxable estate
● Incorporating charitable giving strategies
Even small adjustments can help preserve more of your estate for your family.
Other Important Factors to Consider
Beyond major events, a few quiet items deserve a periodic look. These touch assets that pass outside a will and the people who help carry out your plan.
Beneficiary Designations
Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and some bank or investment accounts pass by beneficiary designation. These should match the rest of your plan. If your will says one thing and a beneficiary form says another, the form usually controls.
Digital Assets
Online accounts and digital property matter more each year. Include instructions for accessing or managing:
● Password managers
● Cloud storage
● Cryptocurrency wallets
● Social media, email, and online banking
Clear directions reduce stress and save time for your family.
Fiduciaries and Key Helpers
Over time, people move, change circumstances, or step away from heavy responsibilities. Check whether your personal representative, trustee, attorney-in-fact, and health care agent are still appropriate choices and whether they have current contact information.
Why Routine Estate Plan Maintenance is Essential
A steady maintenance schedule prevents outdated instructions and keeps your documents aligned with the life you are actually living. Without updates, a plan can drift out of date and create confusion, delays, or unexpected tax issues.
Many families keep a simple checklist they revisit every few years:
- Confirm your goals
- Verify titles and beneficiary forms
- Refresh powers of attorney and health care documents
- Update addresses and contact information for key people
A current plan provides peace of mind, especially during transitions like retirement, downsizing, or health changes.
Ensure Your Legacy: Contact Jordan & White Today
If it’s been more than three years since your last review—or if any of the triggers above apply—your plan may no longer fit your life. A Keeping It Great™ Check-In takes one meeting and ensures your plan still works. At Jordan & White, we build plans that match your life today and stay useful as time goes on.
As part of our Keeping It Great ™ philosophy, we schedule your next check-in before you leave the meeting. This ensures your plan never drifts out of date. And if a major life event happens between scheduled reviews, you do not need to wait. Just give us a call, and we will help you adjust your plan when it matters most.To schedule your next checkup, call 978-309-2426 or reach us through our Contact Us page. We are here to support your family with clear, practical planning at every stage of life.