What changed this year that your Will didn’t capture)
Every December, something happens that people rarely expect. The rush finally slows. The days get warmer. Families start planning lunches or holidays. You take a breath for the first time in a while and look back at the year that somehow disappeared right in front of you. And in those quieter moments, many people realise that their life today looks a little different from the life they had when they first signed their Will.
We hear this often.
“Someone comes in feeling certain they are all sorted because they did their Will a few years ago. ”
They remember ticking it off their list, feeling proud of themselves for finally doing it. But when we start talking about what changed this year, it becomes clear that their Will is still sitting back in a version of their life that no longer exists.
Maybe you welcomed a new baby or grandchild.
Maybe you separated or started a new relationship after thinking you never would again.
Maybe you moved house or bought something significant or started a small business that actually grew faster than you expected.
Maybe a family member’s health shifted quietly in the background and you have only recently admitted to yourself how real that change is.
These moments feel personal and emotional and sometimes messy, but they are exactly the things that shape how your estate should be managed one day. This is the same kind of life change covered in our Estate Planning Annual Review Checklist, which asks simple but important questions like who moved, who married, who separated, who struggled, who thrived, who became a parent, who became unwell, and whether the people you chose to make decisions for you are still the right people for that role.
When we speak with families, it is often these small details that catch them off guard. A parent who is no longer well enough to act as an executor.
A sibling who has moved overseas and may not be able to help with anything practical. A child who is still young but suddenly showing signs that they might need more support or protection. A loan you gave someone that seemed harmless at the time but now has created tension you did not expect. A new partner you deeply care about but forgot to include in your documents because life was busy and everything happened quickly.
“Even the most organised people forget these things. It is not because they do not care. It is because life moves quietly until it doesn’t.”
That is why reviewing your estate planning every year is something we gently encourage. Not because we want you to redo everything. Most plans only need small adjustments. But your Will and your decision making documents should reflect the life you have now, not the one you had a few Christmases ago. A good estate planning lawyer or estate planning expert can help you make sense of these changes in a simple way that gives you clarity and peace of mind.
When you look at your year, ask yourself a few gentle questions.
Did I move?
Did I change relationships?
Did I start a business or buy something important?
Did someone I love become unwell or more vulnerable?
Did someone I trust become too overwhelmed to take on a role I once gave them?
Did any of my children or beneficiaries go through something that might affect how they should receive their inheritance?
All of these questions come directly from our checklist and they are designed to help you see the bigger picture without pressure or complexity
This time of year can be emotional. Families come together. People reflect on what really matters. And that reflection often reveals small gaps in plans that once felt complete. Updating your estate plan is not about expecting the worst. It is about caring for the people you love and giving them the comfort of knowing that if something ever happened, your wishes are clear, your intentions are understood and the people you trust are prepared.
If you would like a gentle starting point, we created a short Estate Planning Annual Review Checklist that helps you see what changed this year and whether your documents still match your life. It only takes a few minutes and it can make a world of difference when it comes to keeping your plan steady and thoughtful.
If you want to talk through anything or you are ready for a quiet review with a legal expert, you can reach us anytime.
Email info@connectedlegal.com.au, call us at 1300 804 195 or book a free 15 minute consultation here:
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