Have you reviewed your estate plan recently? Unfortunately, many estates are distributed in a way that may not be entirely in line with the decedent’s desires. This normally happens because a person does not have a plan or sets up a plan and then does not revisit it for many years. Relationships and circumstances change and your estate plan should be reviewed to make sure it continues to be consistent with your desires. While there are no hard and fast rules about how often you should review your plan, the following list is a good guide:

1. When your family situation changes (divorce, death of a family member, birth of a child or grandchild, etc.);
2. When the nature or size of your estate changes (inheritance, acquisition, increase in value, etc.);
3. When your or one of your intended beneficiaries health circumstances changes;
4. When tax laws change; or
5. In any event, at least every three to five years