The start of a new year is a time to pause and take stock of your life. For many Southerners, that reflection may include black-eye peas, collard greens, and cornbread alongside a fresh set of New Year’s resolutions..
The focus is usually on personal and family milestones, including financial goals and career plans for 2026. One critical area, however, is often overlooked: your personal legal health.
As the National Institute on Aging notes, no one plans to become ill or incapacitated. Being prepared and keeping important legal documents organized in one place can provide peace of mind, help ensure your wishes are honored, and ease the burden on loved ones during emergencies and at the end of life.
Just like an annual physical or financial review, your legal documents should be reviewed regularly to confirm they still reflect your wishes and adequately protect the people you care about. Laws change, families evolve, and assets shift. A plan that worked five years ago may no longer serve its purpose today.
This legal checklist walks through the most important steps to review before 2026, helping you identify gaps, outdated documents, and opportunities to strengthen your overall estate planning strategy.
A will is the foundation of most estate planning strategies, yet it is also one of the most commonly neglected documents, with Gallup finding that slightly less than half of U.S. adults (46 percent) have a will that describes how they would like their money and estate to be handled after their death.
If you already have a will, ask yourself when it was last updated. Major life events often require revisions, including:
Outdated wills can create serious problems. Former spouses may still be named as beneficiaries or executors. Guardianship decisions for minor children may no longer reflect your wishes. Assets acquired after the will was signed may not be properly addressed.
If you do not have a will at all, Texas intestacy laws will determine how your property is distributed. That process may not align with your intentions and can place unnecessary burdens on surviving family members.
Reviewing or creating a will ensures your voice is heard.
Not every estate plan requires a trust, but for many families, a trust provides meaningful advantages over a will alone.
A revocable living trust can offer benefits such as:
A trust may be especially appropriate if you own property in multiple states, want to protect minor beneficiaries, have blended family concerns, or simply want a smoother transition of assets.
As your net worth grows or your family situation becomes more complex, a trust can move from being optional to essential. Reviewing whether a trust fits your current circumstances is an important step in maintaining strong legal health.
A power of attorney is one of the most important documents in any estate plan. There are two primary types to review:
These documents allow someone you trust to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Without them, your family may need to pursue court-ordered guardianship, a process that can be time-consuming, expensive, and emotionally draining.
Powers of attorney can become outdated for several reasons. The person you named may no longer be able or willing to serve. Financial institutions may reject older forms. Changes in law or personal circumstances may also require updates.
Refreshing your power of attorney documents ensures they are legally effective and aligned with your current wishes before a crisis occurs.
One of the most common and costly estate planning mistakes involves beneficiary designations.
Certain assets pass outside of a will or trust based on the beneficiary designation on file. These commonly include:
If these designations are outdated, the wrong person may receive the asset, even if your will says otherwise. In many cases, a beneficiary designation overrides the instructions in a will.
Life changes such as divorce, remarriage, or the death of a beneficiary make regular reviews essential. A quick audit of your beneficiary designation forms can prevent disputes, delays, and unintended outcomes.
Ensuring consistency between your estate planning documents and your account designations is one of the simplest ways to avoid future legal conflicts.
Even the best estate plan can fail if no one can find the documents when they are needed.
Original estate planning documents should be stored securely yet remain accessible. Fireproof home safes, law firm vaults, or secure document storage services are common options. Copies should be shared with trusted individuals such as your executor, trustee, or agent under your power of attorney.
Digital storage can also play a role, provided it is secure and passwords are documented appropriately. Many families benefit from maintaining both physical and digital copies, along with a written inventory of where documents are kept.
Note: Some medical and financial institutions, and some states, may not accept electronic copies of estate planning documents, so it’s a good idea to have the original hard-copy, paper-signed documents stored in a safe place.
Organization reduces confusion and stress during emergencies and ensures your plan can be carried out efficiently.
Even with a will, probate may still be required. Thoughtful planning can make that process significantly easier for loved ones.
Simple steps include:
These actions do not eliminate probate in every situation, but they can reduce delays, costs, and administrative burdens. The goal is not just legal compliance, but peace of mind for those left to manage your affairs.
Estate planning is not a one-time task. It is an ongoing process that should evolve alongside your life.
As 2026 approaches, reviewing your will, trust options, powers of attorney, beneficiary designation forms, and document organization can help ensure your legal health is as strong as your financial and personal goals.
At B. Sloan Law, we help individuals and families create, update, and refine estate planning strategies that reflect real-world needs and Texas law.
Whether your plan needs a simple update or a more comprehensive review, taking action now can prevent uncertainty and protect the people who matter most.
Contact B Sloan Law today for a complete legal checkup.