When was the last time you looked at your will?
If the answer is “I’m not sure,” you’re not alone.
Many of us create a will, put the documents somewhere safe, and move on with life. But life doesn’t stand still. Families grow, relationships change, finances evolve, and the people and causes closest to our hearts may be different than they were years ago.
Your estate plan should keep up.
August is National Make a Will Month, making it a perfect time to pull out your will and take another look. Even if you already have an estate plan, there are circumstances that may mean it’s time for an update.
Here are 10 reasons to review your will.
1. You've Gotten Married
Marriage can change your financial circumstances, family relationships and wishes for the future.
If you created a will before you were married, it may not reflect your current wishes. A marriage may be a good reason to review your beneficiaries, executor and other estate-planning documents.
A new chapter in life deserves a plan that reflects it.
2. You've Gone Through a Divorce
Divorce is another major life event that may require significant changes to your estate plan.
Your former spouse may be named as a beneficiary, executor, or decision-maker in your existing documents. Depending on your circumstances and state law, those provisions may need to be reviewed and updated.
Don't assume that a divorce automatically takes care of everything.
Review your will and other estate-planning documents with a qualified professional to make sure they reflect your wishes today.
3. Your Family Has Grown
Maybe your children were young when you created your will. Maybe you now have grandchildren. Perhaps you've welcomed stepchildren or other important family members into your life.
Family changes can affect the people you want to include in your estate plan.
A new grandchild may inspire you to make a gift. A blended family may require careful planning. Children may have become adults and taken on new roles in your life.
Take time to consider whether your current plan reflects the family you have today.
4. Someone Named in Your Will Has Died
Sometimes the reason to update your will is because someone who was part of your original plan is no longer here.
If your executor, alternate executor, or beneficiary has died, your documents may need to be revised.
This can be an emotional reason to revisit your estate plan, but it is an important one.
Make sure the people you have entrusted with your wishes are still able and willing to fulfill those roles.
5. Your Financial Circumstances Have Changed
Your financial picture today may look very different from the day you signed your will.
Maybe you:
Major financial changes can affect how your estate plan should be structured.
Even changes that seem relatively small may be worth discussing with your attorney or financial adviser.
6. You've Moved to Another State
Did you move after creating your will?
Estate-planning laws vary from state to state, so relocating may be a good reason to have your documents reviewed by a qualified professional familiar with the laws applicable to your new home.
Even if your will remains valid, other parts of your estate plan may deserve attention.
A new address can mean more than a new mailing label. It may be a reason to revisit your plan.
7. Your Relationships Have Changed
Life changes—and so do relationships.
Perhaps someone who was once an important part of your life is no longer involved. Maybe you've developed a close relationship with someone you now consider family. You may have reconnected with relatives or formed new friendships that have become meaningful to you.
Your estate plan should reflect the people you care about today.
Take a thoughtful look at the names in your will and ask yourself:
Do these relationships still reflect the people I want to care for?
8. Your Charitable Interests Have Changed
Over the years, we discover causes and organizations that touch our hearts.
Maybe a nonprofit supported your family. Maybe you became passionate about helping veterans, children, animals, education, or your local community. Maybe one organization has become particularly meaningful to you.
Your estate plan can reflect those changing priorities.
A charitable bequest—a gift to an organization through your estate—can be one way to support a mission you believe in and help it continue into the future.
For supporters of Air Force Enlisted Village, this can be an opportunity to help ensure that AFEV's mission of caring for Air Force families continues for generations to come.
9. Your Beneficiary Designations Are Outdated
Here's something many people don't realize:
Your will isn't necessarily the only document that determines who receives your assets.
Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and certain bank or investment accounts may have beneficiary designations that determine who receives those assets.
That's why reviewing your will should also prompt you to review beneficiary designations.
Ask yourself:
A will and beneficiary designations should work together as part of a thoughtful overall estate plan.
10. It's Simply Been a While
You don't need a dramatic life event to review your will.
Sometimes, the best reason is simply that it's been a long time.
If you can't remember when you last reviewed your estate plan, that's probably a good sign that it's time to pull it out.
Your financial circumstances may have changed. Your family may have changed. Your priorities may have changed.
Or perhaps nothing has changed at all.
Reviewing your plan can give you the reassurance that your wishes are still accurately documented.
Your Will Should Reflect the Life You're Living Today
Your will should reflect the life you're living today—not the life you were living when you signed it.
Estate planning isn't a one-and-done task. It's part of caring for the people and causes that matter most to you.
So this August, take a few minutes to ask yourself:
Has my life changed since I created my will?
If the answer is yes—or even if you're simply not sure—consider making time to review your estate plan.
Gather your documents. Review your beneficiaries. Think about the people you love and the causes you care about. And when appropriate, talk with an estate-planning attorney or other qualified professional about whether your documents need to be updated.
What About the Causes You Love?
As you review your estate plan, don't only think about what you want to leave behind.
Think about what you want to help carry forward.
For many people, a legacy includes the organizations and missions that have mattered throughout their lives.
At Air Force Enlisted Village, we are grateful for the individuals who believe in our mission and want to help ensure that future generations of Air Force families have a safe, caring place to call home.
Including AFEV in your estate plans through a planned gift is one way to continue that care into the future.
The James C. Binnicker Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have chosen to include Air Force Enlisted Village in their estate plans. Their thoughtful generosity helps create a stronger foundation for AFEV's future and ensures that the spirit of caring that built this community continues.
If AFEV is already part of your estate plan, we would be honored to know so we can recognize you as a member of the James C. Binnicker Legacy Society. If you're considering a planned gift, our Development team welcomes the opportunity to answer questions and provide information. Learn more ,.
AFEV does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult an estate-planning attorney, financial adviser or tax professional regarding your individual circumstances.
A Legacy of Love Lives On
Updating your will may seem like a simple administrative task.
But behind every name, every beneficiary and every charitable gift is something much more meaningful:
Love.
Love for your family.
Love for the people who have shaped your life.
Love for the causes that have touched your heart.
And love for the future you hope to help create.
This National Make a Will Month, take a moment to make sure your estate plan reflects the life you're living—and the values you hold today.
Because when we plan with love, the care we give can continue long after we're gone.
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