By: Al Soto October 16, 2025

What Legal Steps Should Families Take to Update Their Estate Plan After Major Life Changes?

Why Updating Your Estate Plan Matters

An estate plan isn’t a one-time task; it’s a living set of legal documents designed to protect your assets, your wishes, and your loved ones over time. As your life evolves, so should your estate plan.

Significant life events such as marriage, divorce, having children, or relocating can affect your estate strategy in unexpected ways. If you don’t update your plan, outdated designations or missing provisions can create confusion, legal disputes, or unintended outcomes.

For example, if you forget to remove an ex-spouse as a beneficiary, they could legally inherit part of your estate. Similarly, failing to include new children may leave them without clear guardianship or inheritance instructions, forcing courts to intervene.

Working with experienced Miami estate planning attorneys ensures that your plan reflects your current reality and complies with Florida law.

Major Life Events That Require an Estate Plan Update

Estate planning needs differ for everyone, but some life events almost always warrant a thorough review:

Marriage or Divorce

When you marry, your spouse typically becomes a key part of your estate plan. Updating beneficiary designations, wills, and trusts ensures their legal rights are protected.
After a divorce, you’ll likely want to remove your ex-spouse from your plan and choose a new personal representative or beneficiary to handle your estate.

Birth and Adoption

Welcoming a new child is a joyful milestone and a legal turning point. You’ll want to update your plan to include guardianship provisions and ensure your child is named as a beneficiary. Even if your spouse inherits everything, naming backup beneficiaries provides clarity if your spouse passes away first.

Relocation to a New Jurisdiction

Estate planning laws vary by jurisdiction. A move may require revising wills, trusts, or notarization requirements to ensure your plan remains legally valid and effective under Florida law or your new state’s regulations.

Other Key Events

Death of a beneficiary or trustee
Acquisition of significant new assets
Starting or closing a business
Illness or disability
Changes in state or federal estate laws

Regular reviews keep your plan aligned with your life and legal obligations.

Steps to Update Your Estate Plan After a Major Life Change

Start by examining your current documents. With guidance from Miami estate planning lawyers, identify what needs to be updated: beneficiaries, executors, guardians, or legal documents like trusts and living wills.

Review Your Existing Estate Plan

Take Inventory of Your Assets and Liabilities

Update your plan to include new assets such as real estate, retirement accounts, or valuable personal property. Don’t forget to account for debts, mortgages, or lines of credit, which must be resolved before asset distribution.

Establish or Revise Legal Directives

Consider adding or modifying tools like trusts, powers of attorney, or advance healthcare directives. These ensure your financial and medical wishes are respected during illness, incapacity, or end-of-life situations.

Designate Primary and Backup Beneficiaries

Clearly assign beneficiaries for each asset. Confirm that designations across wills, trusts, and financial accounts align to avoid probate disputes. Estate planning attorneys can also help you create residuary clauses for any remaining assets.

Work with a Skilled Miami Estate Planning Attorney

Updating your estate plan is as important as creating it. A knowledgeable lawyer ensures your documents remain legally valid, reflect your current circumstances, and protect your legacy under Florida law.

At Perez-Roura Law, our experienced Miami estate planning attorneys help families navigate these life transitions with confidence. We review your existing plan, identify necessary changes, and ensure every update is legally sound and tailored to your goals.

Call us at 305-570-3259 to schedule a FREE consultation.