Cognitive Decline
Explore how cognitive decline affects estate planning decisions and why creating a revocable living trust early protects your family's future.
What happens to my estate plan if I'm diagnosed with dementia or cognitive decline?
A diagnosis of cognitive decline can affect your legal capacity to sign or update estate planning documents, which is why many families create a revocable living trust before any decline begins. Once a person lacks the mental capacity to understand what they are signing, new documents may not be recognized — meaning a court-supervised conservatorship could become necessary to manage their assets. A revocable living trust created while you have full capacity typically includes successor trustee provisions, so a trusted person can step in and manage assets without court involvement. Acting early gives families far more flexibility and control over how assets are handled during a period of incapacity.
