Estate planning isn’t something you do once and forget about. Life changes and when it does, your estate plan should change too.
Your Will, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), and other documents need to reflect your current wishes, family circumstances, and financial situation. If they’re out of date, they could cause problems for your loved ones down the line.
At Honey Legal, we believe in keeping things simple. Here are 5 clear signs it’s time to review your estate plan.
- You’ve Had a Major Life Change
Life events like these can impact your estate plan:
- You got married or divorced
- You had a child or grandchild
- A loved one has passed away
- You bought or sold a home
- Your health has changed
If any of these apply, your Will or LPAs may no longer reflect what you want. For example, a divorce does not automatically remove your ex from your Will and a new child won’t be included unless you update it.
What to do: Review your documents after any major life change. Make sure your wishes, beneficiaries, and key appointments (like guardians or attorneys) still make sense.
- Your Beneficiaries Have Changed
Your beneficiaries are the people who inherit from your estate. Over time, relationships change. You may no longer want certain people included or you might want to add others.
For example:
- You’ve fallen out with someone named in your Will
- You’ve reconnected with a family member you want to include
- You want to add a new partner, stepchild, or friend
- Someone named has passed away
What to do: Look over who is currently listed and ask yourself: Is this still who I want to benefit from my estate? If not, it’s time for an update.
- Your Executors or Attorneys Are No Longer Suitable
Your executor (for your Will) and attorneys (for your LPAs) are the people who make decisions on your behalf when you pass away or lose capacity. Choosing the right people is crucial.
You may need to review your plan if:
- Your executor or attorney has died
- You no longer trust them or are no longer in contact
- They are too unwell or live abroad
- You want to appoint someone more suitable
What to do: Check who you’ve named in these roles. If they’re no longer the best choice, update your documents and let your new appointees know.
- It’s Been More Than 3–5 Years Since You Last Reviewed It
Even if nothing major has changed, it’s still a good idea to review your estate plan every few years. Laws change, your finances may have grown, and your views may have shifted.
For example:
- Do you still want your estate split the same way?
- Have your assets increased and need more protection?
- Are your LPAs still up to date with your current wishes?
What to do: Schedule a regular review of your documents every 3–5 years. A quick check can save your loved ones time, stress, and legal trouble later on.
- You’ve Never Done It – Or You’re Not Sure What’s in It
If you’ve written a Will or LPA and never looked at it since or you’re not even sure what it says, it’s time to dig it out and have a proper look.
Common issues we see include:
- Wills missing major assets or people
- Outdated addresses or names
- LPAs that were never registered
- Plans that don’t match your current wishes
What to do: Take 30 minutes to review your documents. If anything looks outdated, unclear, or no longer applies, get expert help.
Why Reviewing Your Estate Plan Matters
An outdated or unclear estate plan can lead to serious complications for your loved ones. Here’s why it’s so important to keep it up to date:
- Family disputes
If your Will is unclear or contradicts what you’ve told family members verbally, it can cause confusion and arguments. Out-of-date documents can result in people feeling unfairly left out or unsure of your wishes, leading to costly and emotional legal challenges. - Delays in probate
If your estate plan doesn’t accurately reflect your current assets, executors may struggle to locate everything, and that can slow down the probate process. Missing or outdated information often leads to unnecessary paperwork, extra legal checks, and longer waits for your loved ones to receive their inheritance. - The wrong people inheriting your assets
If your Will hasn’t been updated after major life changes (such as divorce, remarriage, or new grandchildren), the people you want to benefit from your estate may not be included, while others you no longer wish to benefit might still be named. - Loved ones unable to make decisions for you when needed
If your LPAs are not in place, or if the attorneys named are no longer suitable or available, your family will need to apply to the Court of Protection to make decisions on your behalf. This is a costly, time-consuming, and stressful process and it means they may not be able to act quickly in an emergency.
Estate planning isn’t just about paperwork, it’s about peace of mind. A quick review now can avoid big problems later.
Ready to Review Your Estate Plan?
At Honey Legal, we make estate planning easy to understand and easy to update. Whether you’re reviewing a Will, checking your LPAs, or unsure where to start, we’re here to help.
📞 Call us on 0800 9 500 100 (quote: SOCIAL)
📧 Email us at enquiries@honeylegal.co.uk
We’ll guide you through your options and help make sure your estate plan still works for you and the people you care about.
Final Thought
Your estate plan should grow with your life. If any of these five signs sound familiar, now is the perfect time to review your documents and make sure your wishes are protected.
Don’t leave things to chance, plan ahead with Honey Legal.