5 Estate Planning Resolutions for 2026

A new year brings new possibilities—and a fresh chance to put your financial and personal affairs in order. Whether you already have an estate plan or you’re just getting started, 2026 is the perfect year to take control of your long-term goals. Estate planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about protecting the people you love, preparing for life’s uncertainties, and building a legacy that reflects your values.

Here are five smart estate planning resolutions to help you start 2026 with clarity and confidence:

1. Finally Get Your Core Documents in Place

If you’ve been meaning to create (or update) your estate plan, make 2026 the year you finally do it.

Every adult should have at least:

• A Last Will and Testament
• A Durable Power of Attorney
• A Health Care Surrogate Designation
• A Living Will
• A plan for minor children, if applicable
• Clear instructions for digital accounts and passwords

Without these documents, your family may face unnecessary stress, delays, and court involvement at the worst possible time. Getting them in place now ensures your wishes are known and legally protected.

2. Review and Update Beneficiary Designations

Estate planning isn’t just about your will. Many assets—like retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and some financial accounts—pass directly to beneficiaries.

Make it a resolution to review:

• Life insurance policies
• 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts
• Bank and investment accounts with transfer-on-death (TOD/POD) designations

Common life changes that may require updates:

• Marriage or divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Death of a loved one
• A child reaching adulthood

If your beneficiaries aren’t up-to-date, the wrong person could inherit—or the right person could unintentionally be left out.

3. Create or Strengthen Your Plan for Incapacity

Incapacity planning is one of the most overlooked parts of an estate plan, yet one of the most important.

In 2026, resolve to answer questions like:

• Who will manage my finances if I’m unable to?
• Who can make medical decisions on my behalf?
• What treatment preferences do I want documented?
• Do my agents know where my documents are stored?

A strong incapacity plan can prevent expensive guardianship proceedings and reduce conflict within your family.

4. Reevaluate Your Trusts—or Consider Creating One

Trusts aren’t just for the wealthy. They can be powerful tools for:

• Avoiding probate
• Managing assets for minor children
• Providing for blended families
• Protecting inheritances from creditors
• Ensuring privacy

If you already have a trust, review it in 2026 to ensure:

• The trustee you named is still the right person
• Your distribution ages make sense
• Newly acquired assets are properly titled into the trust

If you don’t have a trust, talk to an estate planning attorney about whether one might simplify matters for your family.

5. Organize and Share Your Important Information

Even the best estate plan can cause frustration if your loved ones can’t find your documents or passwords. In 2026, make it a goal to organize:

• Legal documents
• Financial account information
• Digital assets and logins
• Insurance policies
• Title documents
• Contact information for advisors (attorney, CPA, financial professional)

Then—most importantly—tell at least one trusted person where everything is stored.

This single step can save your family hours of searching and significant stress during an already emotional time.

Start 2026 with Peace of Mind

Estate planning is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. Whether you’re creating your plan from scratch or updating documents you already have, taking these steps now can bring clarity, protection, and confidence for the year ahead.

If you’d like help putting your 2026 estate planning resolutions into action, our office is here to guide you every step of the way. Book a call today.