If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter, you may have read about my recommendations for the new year (BTW, if you would like to receive my newsletter, click here https://davidlefton.com/newsletters/# and we’ll put you on the email list).
No worries … I’m not going to lean on you to make resolutions you probably won’t keep. No, in fact, my recommendation as we enter 2026 is easy and won’t require much of your time. My recommendation is to do a quick review of your estate plan documents, including your will, power of attorney, medical directive, and living will.
It just makes sense. Very soon, we will all be getting our financial affairs organized for the upcoming tax season. Not fun, but required of everyone. I like to remind my clients that while they’re organizing their files, digging out paperwork, and tracking down receipts, it is the ideal time to review their estate plan documents. It is much easier to do this when you’re already digging through all your financials. Specifically, I recommend you review the following elements of your estate plan to determine whether updates are needed. (I can tell you sincerely, an out-of-date will, beneficiary, or medical directive can have dire consequences for you and your loved ones, so please take my recommendation seriously.)
As you review your plan documents, consider the following:
- Have you had any major life changes since your estate plan was last updated? (Marriage, divorce, new baby, significant asset inheritance, or death of a beneficiary.)
- Have you experienced any changes in your relationships with named executors, beneficiaries, or agents? (Maybe they have moved out of the area or, sadly, perhaps you are now estranged from one another.)
- Have you had any change of heart regarding your end-of-life wishes? (For example, your feelings about artificial life support or your funeral arrangements?)
A review of the above won’t take long, but could save you and your loved ones a lot of trouble in the future, especially if your plan hasn’t been reviewed and updated for a while. If you find anything that needs to be updated and you’d like some help making the changes, AND making sure they are legal, please give me a call at 513-399-7526 or visit my website www.davidlefton.com to schedule a meeting.