Mid-Year Check-In For Your Estate Plan
Mid-Year Check-In For Your Estate Plan
The year may feel like it just began, but June is already here—marking the midpoint of 2025. With longer days, warm weather, and summer vacations on the horizon, now is an ideal time to revisit your estate plan and ensure it still reflects your current wishes and life circumstances.
Whether you’ve experienced significant changes in your personal life or you’re simply preparing for time away from home, a mid-year check-in can help keep your estate plan aligned with your goals and responsibilities.
Reflecting on Life Changes
Over the first half of the year, you or your loved ones may have experienced events that can impact your estate plan. Some of the most common include:
Births or adoptions – Welcoming a new child or grandchild into the family is a joyful occasion, and it’s worth ensuring that your estate plan includes them appropriately. You may want to name a guardian, update your beneficiary designations, or revise your trust provisions to include them.
Marriage or divorce – Entering or exiting a marriage changes not only personal dynamics but also financial and legal ones. You may need to update your will, powers of attorney, and beneficiary forms to reflect your current relationships.
Death of a loved one – If someone named in your plan has passed away, such as a personal representative, trustee, or beneficiary, your documents should be updated to reflect a new individual in that role.
Changes in financial situation – A significant increase or decrease in assets, the sale of property, or the start of a new business venture can all affect how your estate is managed and distributed.
If any of these scenarios apply to you, it’s a good idea to connect with your estate planning attorney to make updates that protect your wishes and avoid complications down the line.
Planning for Summer Travel
As summer vacation season approaches, many families are making plans to travel—whether it’s a weekend at Lake Chelan, a cross-country road trip, or a long-awaited international adventure. Before packing your bags, it’s worth taking a moment to ensure your legal documents are in order.
Two of the most important documents to review before traveling are:
General Durable Power of Attorney – This document allows someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you are unable to do so yourself while you’re away or in an emergency.
Healthcare Power of Attorney –This lets you name someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to communicate. These are typically coupled with a healthcare directive (also known as a living will) which allows you to make predetermined medical decisions in the event you are brain dead or in an irreversible coma.
Accidents and unexpected health events can happen anywhere—even on vacation. Having up-to-date documents in place can give you and your family peace of mind, knowing that someone you trust is legally empowered to act on your behalf.
If you’re traveling without your children, it’s also wise to leave clear instructions and temporary guardianship documentation with their caregivers, especially if they’re staying with relatives or family friends.
Starting Family Conversations
Estate planning is deeply personal, but it’s also a topic that touches the lives of your loved ones. One of the most meaningful steps you can take during a mid-year review is to talk with your family about your plans.
These conversations don’t have to be uncomfortable. In fact, they often provide clarity, reduce misunderstandings, and strengthen relationships. Consider discussing topics like:
Who you’ve named as your executor, trustee, or power of attorney.
How you’d like healthcare decisions to be handled.
Any particular goals or values that shaped your estate plan.
Your intentions for leaving specific gifts, managing a family vacation home, or supporting a charitable cause.
Bringing these topics into the open can help your loved ones understand your wishes and feel confident about honoring them in the future.
We're Here to Help
At Woodinville Law, we understand that estate planning is not a one-time event—it’s a process that evolves with your life. A mid-year check-in is a simple yet meaningful way to ensure your estate plan is still serving you and your loved ones well.
Whether you need to update a will, review a trust, revise your power of attorney, or simply want to discuss your current situation with a professional, our team is here to support you with compassionate, experienced guidance.
Make this the time you take a moment to reflect, update, and communicate. A little time now can make a lasting difference later.
Contact us today to schedule your mid-year estate plan review.