Life Changes
Learn how marriage, divorce, new children, and other major life events impact your estate plan. Discover when to update your trust and beneficiary designations.
How soon after getting married should I update my estate plan?
You'll want to update your estate plan shortly after marriage to include your spouse as a beneficiary and potentially as successor trustee. Marriage can affect your beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies, which often don't automatically update. You may also want to review your healthcare directives to grant your spouse medical decision-making authority. Many couples also take this opportunity to create new wills or trusts that reflect their combined assets and family goals.
