What Life Events Require Changes to Your Estate Plan?

 Posted on February 27, 2026 in Estate Planning

Most people create an estate plan once and assume it will hold up no matter what changes in their lives. However, an outdated plan can be just as harmful as no plan at all. According to a recent study, medical diagnoses account for 10 percent of the reasons people choose to update their estate plans. Preparations for serious medical procedures were cited in seven percent of updates.

Those numbers reflect only the people who actually made changes. Millions of others haven't updated their documents at all after significant life events. If your life has changed as of 2026, your plan probably needs to change too. Our Medina County, OH estate planning lawyers can help you figure out what still works and what needs updating.

Does Getting Married Mean You Need a New Estate Plan?

Marriage is one of the most important reasons to update an estate plan. Unfortunately, it's one of the most commonly overlooked. If you had a will before getting married and didn't update it, your new spouse may not be protected the way you intend.

Under Ohio Revised Code § 2107.02, a valid will must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by at least two people. A will you signed before your marriage doesn't automatically account for your spouse.

Beyond the will itself, you'll also want to update beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and bank accounts. Under Ohio Revised Code § 2131.10, a beneficiary designation on a financial account overrides whatever your will says. If your former partner is still listed as a beneficiary and you pass away, they may receive that asset regardless of what your current will states.

How Does Divorce Affect Your Estate Plan in Ohio?

Divorce requires an immediate review of everything. Ohio law does revoke certain provisions in favor of a former spouse after a divorce is finalized. However, it does not automatically update every document. Beneficiary designations on older accounts may not be covered by that protection. The safest approach is to update everything yourself rather than relying on the law to fill the gaps.

You'll also want to change who you've named as your agent in a durable power of attorney and who holds your healthcare power of attorney. These documents give someone else the authority to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you're ever incapacitated. Having a former spouse in that role is rarely what anyone would want.

What Should You Update When You Have or Adopt a Child?

The birth or adoption of a child is one of the most urgent reasons to revisit your estate plan. Your will is where you name a guardian for minor children. If you don't have a will or haven't updated yours since your child was born, an Ohio probate court will make that decision without any guidance from you.

You'll also want to think carefully about how assets will pass to your children. Naming a minor child directly as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy or retirement account can create problems, since minors can't legally manage large sums of money on their own. A trust can hold and distribute assets on a child's behalf until they reach an age where they're ready to manage them responsibly.

When Do Financial Changes Require an Estate Plan Update?

Any significant shift in what you own should prompt a review. This includes:

• Buying or selling a home, especially if you want to use a Transfer on Death affidavit under Ohio Revised Code § 5302.22 to pass real estate directly to a beneficiary without going through probate
• Inheriting money or property from a family member
• Starting, buying into, or selling a business
• A major increase or decrease in your overall assets
• Taking on significant debt that could affect how your estate is handled

Any time the financial picture shifts, it's worth confirming your plan still directs your assets where you want them to go.

Does a Serious Illness or New Diagnosis Change What You Need?

A health diagnosis doesn't just affect your medical care. It also affects who can make decisions for you and when. If you don't already have a healthcare power of attorney and a living will, a serious illness is an urgent reason to create them.

A living will, sometimes called an advance directive, tells your doctors what kind of care you do and don't want if you're unable to speak for yourself. Without one, those decisions fall to family members who may not agree on what you would have wanted.

A durable financial power of attorney is equally important. It allows a trusted person to manage your finances and pay your bills if you become incapacitated. Without it, your family may need to go through a court-supervised guardianship process just to access your accounts.

Contact Our Brunswick, OH Estate Planning Attorneys Today

Life changes, and your estate plan should keep up. Whether you've recently married, divorced, welcomed a child, bought property, or received a new diagnosis, now is the right time to review your documents. The Law Office of Whitney K.S. Miller, LLC brings more than 21 years of combined legal experience to estate planning matters throughout Medina County and the surrounding area.

Our Medina County, OH estate planning lawyers are here to make sure your plan still does what you need it to do. Call 330-725-4114 to schedule a consultation today.