10 Life Changes That Should Trigger a Review
Most people don’t skip estate planning because they don’t care. They skip it because life is busy—and the plan they meant to update keeps getting pushed to “later.”
But estate planning isn’t a one-and-done project. It’s more like your car: if you never do a tune-up, it may still run… until it doesn’t. And when an estate plan breaks, it usually breaks at the worst possible time—when your family is stressed, grieving, and trying to make decisions quickly.
Here are 10 common life changes that should prompt a review of your trust/will, beneficiary designations, and your “in-case-of-emergency” documents (like powers of attorney).
1) You got married (or remarried)
Marriage changes your legal and financial picture—especially in California, where community property rules can matter. It’s also the time to decide: Are we planning together? Separately? A joint trust? (And if this is a second marriage, planning for kids from prior relationships is crucial.)
2) You separated or divorced
Divorce can change who you want in charge, who you want to inherit, and who should not be listed anywhere. Even before the divorce is final, it’s wise to review who is named as trustee, executor, agent under power of attorney, and health care decision-maker.
3) You had a child (or adopted)
This is the big one. If you have minor children, your plan should address:
Guardianship (who would raise your kids if you can’t)
Trust planning (who manages money for kids, and when they receive it)
Updated beneficiaries on life insurance and retirement accounts
4) Your child became an adult
Turning 18 is a legal milestone. Your plan may need to shift from “parent controls everything” to:
Encouraging the young adult to sign basic documents (power of attorney / health care directive), and
Confirming how (and when) you want them to inherit.
5) A loved one died—or your chosen decision-maker can’t serve
If the person you named as trustee, executor, or agent has passed away, moved away, or is no longer a good fit, it’s time to update. A plan that depends on one person can fall apart when that person isn’t available.
6) You bought or sold a home (or refinanced)
Real estate is often the largest asset in a California estate. Common issues after a move or refinance include:
A home that never got transferred into the trust,
Outdated property schedules,
Title/ownership that doesn’t match the plan.
7) Your finances changed meaningfully
“Meaningfully” can mean up or down:
Inheritance, stock compensation, business growth, sale of a company
Major debts, cash-flow changes, or a new financial obligation
When your net worth or asset mix changes, the “what goes where” plan should change too.
8) You started, bought, or sold a business
Business ownership brings special questions: Who runs it if you’re incapacitated? Who can sign? What happens at death? Even small businesses benefit from a coordinated plan so the business doesn’t freeze at exactly the wrong time.
9) Your health changed (or you became a caregiver)
If you or a spouse has a diagnosis, mobility issues, or memory concerns, review your incapacity planning:
Durable power of attorney (finances)
Advance health care directive
HIPAA authorizations
Trustee succession and “step-in” rules
10) You moved (or your family moved)
Moving across state lines is a classic “quiet plan-breaker.” Even within California, changes in your family’s location can affect who can realistically serve as trustee or agent, and how smoothly things will run.