When to update your will — life events that should trigger a refresh

A will isn't a one-and-done document. Lives change, laws change, the people in your life change. The good news: most updates are small. A change of executor or guardian doesn't require a wholesale rewrite — a codicil (a signed amendment) handles it. Even when you do redo the whole thing, modern platforms make it a 15-minute job.

The rule of thumb most estate attorneys use: review your will every 3-5 years, and after any major life event.

Here's what counts as a major life event.

Major personal events

Marriage. A new spouse needs to be named. Some states automatically void a will at marriage; most don't. Either way, an unintentionally-omitted spouse can claim a statutory share regardless of what the will says.

Divorce. Most states automatically revoke an ex-spouse from the will, but the rules are state-specific and don't always extend to the ex's relatives (former in-laws). Update everything: beneficiary forms on retirement accounts, life insurance, the will itself.

Birth or adoption of a child. Most wills handle this with phrases like "all my children, including any born after this will." But you should still revisit guardian nominations, equal-share assumptions, and trustee structures.

Death of a beneficiary or executor. If your sister was your executor and she's died, you need to formally update — not just rely on the alternate. The same for beneficiaries: the residuary clause should anticipate this, but specific bequests may need to be redirected.

A child reaches adulthood. Trust structures for minor children may no longer apply once kids are over 25 or wherever your trust ages out. The whole testamentary trust may be removable.

A child develops a disability or substance issue. This is the case where a generic equal-share residuary becomes dangerous. Add a special-needs trust or spendthrift trust for that beneficiary specifically.

Major financial events

Significant inheritance or windfall. Big asset increases may put you over a state estate-tax threshold or change your charitable plans. Worth a re-review.

Selling or buying a major asset. If you specifically bequeathed "my 2018 Honda" and you don't own that Honda anymore, the gift "adeems" — fails. Re-list specific bequests.

Starting or selling a business. Business interests need succession planning. A buy-sell agreement may complement the will.

Cross-state move. State law governs probate, witness rules, statutory shares for spouses, and many other details. A California will is valid in Texas (mostly) but may use language that doesn't fit Texas defaults. Worth re-running the will in the new state's template.

International move or asset acquisition. Foreign property and non-citizen spouses introduce treaty-level complexity. Don't try to handle this in a U.S. will; consult a cross-border attorney.

Major external changes

Estate-tax law changes. The federal exemption is changing — currently $13.99M but scheduled to drop dramatically in 2026 unless Congress extends. State estate-tax thresholds also drift. If you're near a threshold, every change deserves a review.

Beneficiary's life situation changes. Your child got divorced and you don't want their soon-to-be ex receiving anything via them. Or a charity you bequeathed to has merged or dissolved.

Your healthcare or capacity changes. A diagnosis that changes your time horizon may shift priorities — more focus on incapacity planning, quicker probate avoidance, simplification.

What kind of update do you need?

Codicil — for a single small change: replace an executor, swap a guardian, add or remove a specific bequest. Must be signed and witnessed with the same formalities as the will. Fine for one or two changes; stacking codicils gets messy.

Restatement (full re-do) — for anything bigger. New will, new signing, new witnesses. Old will is revoked. Modern platforms (including Trustwise) make this almost as fast as a codicil.

Beneficiary form updates — separate from the will. Pull each retirement account, life insurance policy, and TOD/POD bank account online; update the beneficiary forms directly with the institution.

What doesn't usually need a will update

• Buying a car (unless it was specifically bequeathed)
• Closing a credit card
• Moving within the same state
• Inheriting routine assets that join the residuary
• Adding minor account balances

A practical schedule

For most people:

• Year 0: Initial will signed.
• Year 1: Quick re-read at the anniversary. Confirm names, addresses, and intentions still match.
• Years 3-5: A more careful review. Beneficiary forms audit. State law check.
• Major life events whenever they happen: Update.

Trustwise's Updates plan ($29/year) covers unlimited revisions. For most people, you'll use it 2-3 times in five years. After year one, even small refreshes — adding a new grandchild's name, swapping an executor — are worth doing properly rather than scribbling on the original.

Bottom line

Wills aren't artifacts. They're instruction sets, and instructions go stale. A 15-minute review once a year and a 30-minute refresh after major events keeps your plan from becoming the wrong instructions at the worst time.