Jennifer thought she was all set. She’d created her estate plan five years ago when her kids were toddlers—will, trust, guardianship arrangements, the works. Then life happened. She got divorced, remarried, had another baby, and her parents moved to assisted living. Last month, she realized her estate documents still listed her ex-husband as executor and didn’t even mention her youngest child.
Completing your estate plan is just the beginning. For many Utah families, the real challenge lies in keeping it updated.
The 3-to-5 Year Rule (And When to Break It)
Most estate planning attorneys recommend reviewing your estate plan every 3 to 5 years. But honestly, that’s just a starting point. Life doesn’t wait for your calendar reminder, and some changes need immediate attention.
Even if your personal life feels stable, Utah laws change, federal tax rules shift, and your financial situation evolves. What made perfect sense five years ago might leave your family scrambling today.
Life Events That Can’t Wait
Getting married or divorced Utah law gets tricky here. Divorce might automatically revoke parts of your will or trust, but not everything. And marriage? It can complicate things in ways you wouldn’t expect. Don’t assume the courts will figure out your intentions—spell them out clearly.
New Baby, New Problems Every time
Your family grows, your estate plan needs attention. Who’s the guardian now? How do you want assets divided? What if something happens to you before this baby reaches adulthood? These aren’t questions you want your family sorting out later.
When Key People Can’t Serve Remember
That friend you named as executor a decade ago? The one who moved across the country and now has three kids under five? Or your aging parent who can barely manage their own finances, let alone yours? If your chosen representatives can’t or shouldn’t serve anymore, update your documents.
Major Money Moves
Bought a house? Started a business? Inherited money from your grandmother? Your trust and asset distribution plans need to reflect your current reality, not your financial situation from years ago.
Welcome to Utah
Moving to Utah from another state doesn’t automatically invalidate your estate plan, but it might not work as smoothly as you’d hope. Utah has specific probate procedures and property laws that could affect how your plan plays out. Better to review now than leave your family guessing later.
Health Changes Everything
If your health has changed—whether it’s a new diagnosis, ongoing treatment, or just getting older—your healthcare directives and powers of attorney need another look. The decisions you made at 35 might not reflect what you want at 55.
What Actually Needs Updating?
Your Will: Are the people you named still the right choices? Has your relationship with beneficiaries changed? Do your asset distributions still make sense?
Your Trust: Does it include everything you own now? Are the instructions still what you’d want?
Powers of Attorney: Can the people you chose still handle financial and healthcare decisions? Are they still willing?
Healthcare Directives: Do your medical instructions match your current beliefs and situation?
Beneficiary Designations: This is the big one people forget. Your retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts have their own beneficiary forms—and they override your will. When’s the last time you checked them?
The Real Cost of Waiting
Here’s what I see happen to families who put off updates: The estate plan that was supposed to make things easier becomes a source of conflict and confusion. Adult children fighting over guardianship because the named guardian lives in another state now. Assets tied up in probate because the trust was never updated to include the family home. Ex-spouses accidentally inheriting money because nobody updated the beneficiary forms.
These aren’t just paperwork problems—they’re family problems that happen at the worst possible time.
Making Updates Actually Happen
The biggest hurdle isn’t knowing you need to update your estate plan—it’s actually doing it. Life gets busy, and estate planning feels like something you can always handle “next month.”
Here’s what works: Set a regular review schedule tied to something you already do. Some families review their estate plan when they do their taxes. Others pick a birthday or anniversary. The key is making it routine, not reactive.
At Gravis Law, we understand that estate planning isn’t a one-and-done task—it’s an ongoing part of taking care of your family. We help Utah families from our Orem and SLC offices create estate plans that actually work and keep them updated as life changes. Whether you’re reviewing an old plan or starting fresh, we’ll make sure your legal documents match your real life.
Contact us today to schedule your estate plan review and get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your family is truly protected.
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