Most people create their estate plan once and never look at it again. But life doesn’t stand still, and neither should the documents that decide what happens when you’re not around to explain yourself.

A marriage. A divorce. A new grandchild. A house sold. A diagnosis you didn’t see coming. These moments change what’s right for your family. If your plan hasn’t kept up, you could be leaving behind confusion, extra costs, and unnecessary legal trouble.

The Cost of Letting It Sit

Probate is the court process that happens when someone passes away without a proper plan, or with outdated documents. It can take about 20 months and cost 3–7% of an estate’s value in fees. (Source: MarketWatch)

For a $500,000 estate, that’s $15,000–$35,000 gone before your family receives anything.

Many families end up cutting back on everyday expenses for years just to cover probate-related costs. That’s money that could have gone toward college tuition, medical care, or a more secure retirement.

When to Take a Second Look

Wealth.com advises reviewing your estate plan every two years and making a full update at least every five years, sooner if life throws you a major change. Many estate attorneys echo this, recommending a check-in every 3–5 years if nothing significant has changed. (Source: Husch Blackwell)

• You should also review immediately if you:

  • Get married, divorced, or have a child

  • Buy or sell property

  • Start or close a business

  • Change who you trust to make legal or medical decisions

  • Move to another state

  • Learn of a tax or estate law change that could affect you

Why People Delay, And Why It Backfires

A surprising 37% of Americans think they don’t own enough to need an estate plan. (Source: D.A. Davidson)

But estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy. It’s about making sure what you do have goes where you want it to go, without a stranger making those decisions.

In one reported case as stated by Investopedia, a woman in Brooklyn spent ten years trying to sell her late mother’s home because there was no clear plan in place. Ten years of delays, court costs, and uncertainty, all of which could have been avoided with updated documents.

Regardless of financial status, having a current estate plan means your wishes are honored, your loved ones avoid unnecessary legal battles, and the wealth you’ve worked for goes to the people and causes that matter to you.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

If you’ve ever had to go through someone’s finances after they passed, you know how stressful it can be. Updating your estate plan now means your loved ones won’t have to make hard decisions quickly, while dealing with grief and legal deadlines.

It’s not just about documents. It’s about making the process easier for the people you care about most.

Book your complimentary Estate Planning Checkup today. We’ll review your current plan, identify anything that’s out of date, and help you make updates that keep your family protected.

A few hours now could save them months of legal delays and thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs.

Start you journey with Legacy Promises Network today.