A New Year Is A Great Time To Review Your Estate Plan

As the calendar rolls over to Spring 2026, a lot of people are thinking about their New Year’s Resolutions. The new year is a great time to ensure that your life is in order and that you are able to set and meet your goals. For many people, that means reviewing (and potentially revising) their estate plan. Here, our Boston estate planning attorney provides a guide of considerations for reviewing your estate plan for 2026.

Life Changes and That Can Undermine Your Estate Plan 

You may have already set up a great estate plan. However, as your life changes, that estate plan may no longer be as effective as it was on day one. The reality is that estate plans should be thought of as a living set of documents. The best approach is for them to be reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. Estate plans do not fail all at once. They fail slowly, as life changes outpace documents. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, relocation, or a change in health can all alter how an estate plan should function. In Massachusetts, intestacy and default probate rules apply when documents fail to reflect reality. That can override intent. A new year is a great time to check your plan.

Massachusetts Law Governs How and When Your Plan Takes Effect 

The Commonwealth follows the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 190B). That statute controls the validity of a will, fiduciary authority, notice requirements, and creditor deadlines. A plan drafted years ago may not fully align with current statutory requirements or evolving case law. Reviewing your estate plan ensures that your documents all still meet the Commonwealth’s legal standards. 

Incapacity Planning Often Needs More Attention 

Many people focus on what happens after death and overlook incapacity. A serious illness or accident can leave you unable to manage finances or make medical decisions. Without updated powers of attorney and health care proxies, loved ones may need to seek a guardianship or conservatorship through the Probate and Family Court. That process is public and time-consuming. A New Year review confirms that your chosen agents are still appropriate and available. It also ensures that documents still meet the current legal requirements. 

A New Year Review Can Reduce Stress for You and the People You Care About Most 

An estate plan is not just a legal instrument. It is a set of instructions your family must follow during a difficult time. Reviewing it at the start of the year provides clarity and reassurance. It confirms that decisions are intentional, current, and legally enforceable. For many Massachusetts families, that peace of mind is the most valuable outcome of the process. A top-rated Boston, MA estate planning lawyer can help. 

Call Our Boston Estate Planning Lawyer for Immediate Help

At Fisher Law LLC, our Massachusetts estate planning attorneys are compassionate, solutions-focused advocates for people and families. Are you ready for a full review of your estate plan? We can help. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a fully confidential initial appointment. We provide estate planning services throughout all of the Boston area.

Source:

malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/Partii/Titleii/Chapter190b