Estate Plan Amendments

It’s a good idea to review your estate plan on a regular basis, particularly after major life events occur to either the people in your life (marriages, divorces, deaths, etc.), or to the assets in your estate (inheritance, losses, new homes, etc.). Life is full of expected and unexpected turns, and many of them may lead to a need to amend a will or trust. The Law Office of Merrill A. Hanson is happy to amend your plan, regardless of who drafted it.

You do not need to go back to the original drafting attorney to have your plans updated. Call today to get a quote.

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Checklist of Changes Requiring Review of Will or Estate Plan

Changes in family relations

Marital separation or dissolution
Death of a spouse
Marriage of a single person
Changes regarding a child or grandchild or other beneficiary
Birth of a child (within wedlock or not)
Marriage of a child
Marriage dissolution of a child
Adoption of a child
Illness of a child
Death of a child
Economic change: good or bad fortune
Attitude change toward testator/trustor
Change in level of responsibility (finance, drugs, lifestyle, etc.)

Changes in your economic or personal condition

Asset values – increase or decrease
Change in insurability – health, life, disability, long-term care
Change in employment (esp. change in benefits)
Change in business interests – new partnerships or corporations
Property acquired in a different state
Change in health of client or spouse
Retirement from business or profession

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External changes

Changes in laws; state and federal income, estate or gift taxes; property; trusts; probate
Change of residence to different state
Death, disability or relocation of executer, successor trustee, agent or guardian

Estate Plan Amendments