Building up a good record and plan for your loved ones isn’t a one and done job. Once a good foundation is built, it does need to be kept current and updated.
Luckily, you don’t need to review everything constantly. You just need to know when to look—and what typically needs updating when life shifts.
Here’s a simple way to think about document reviews: anchor them to life events, not arbitrary dates.
A Good Rule of Thumb
- Do an overall review once a year
- Do a specific review anytime something significant changes.
Below are the moments that most often trigger updates, and the key documents worth checking when they do.
Major Life Events That Should Prompt a Review
A New Job or Change in Income
New employment, freelance work, retirement, or a significant raise often affects more than just your paycheck.
This is a good time to review:
- Tax documents
- Retirement and investment account beneficiaries
- Life insurance coverage tied to income replacement
- Health insurance info
Even if nothing needs changing, confirming that everything still reflects your current reality can save headaches later.
Moving or Buying a Home
An address change touches more documents than people expect.
Check and update:
- Legal address on wills and estate documents
- Insurance policies (homeowners, renters, umbrella)
- Property records and mortgage documents
- Utility, subscription, and service account access
This is also a good moment to document where physical paperwork is stored, especially if it moved with you.
Marriage, Divorce, or a Long-Term Partnership Change
Relationship changes are one of the most important triggers for document updates—and one of the most commonly delayed.
Review:
- Will and beneficiary designations
- Powers of attorney and healthcare proxies
- Life and disability insurance beneficiaries
- Emergency contacts and account access
These updates ensure the people you trust are still the ones legally empowered to act if needed.
A New Child or Grandchild
Welcoming a new family member brings joy—and new responsibility.
Consider updating:
- Your will, including guardianship preferences
- Life insurance coverage and beneficiaries
- Notes, messages, or memories you’d want preserved for them
This is also a meaningful moment to begin capturing family stories and intentions, not just legal details.
Health Changes
A diagnosis, surgery, aging parent, or simply getting older can shift priorities quickly.
This is a good time to review:
- Healthcare directives and medical preferences
- Powers of attorney
- Medication lists and provider information
- Insurance coverage and care instructions
Clear documentation helps loved ones support you without guessing.
Loss of a Loved One
Grief can make administration harder. Having your own information in order is an act of kindness to the people who may one day need it.
Review:
- Executors or trusted contacts
- Account access and passwords
- Beneficiary designations
- Notes about how you want things handled
Even small updates can make a meaningful difference later.
What to Review Annually (Even Without a Big Life Change)
Once a year, it’s worth doing a quick check-in to make sure:
- Contact information is current
- beneficiaries still make sense
- Insurance policies are active and accessible
- Tax documents are easy to find
- Passwords and account lists are up to date
Think of this as maintenance, not planning for the worst.
Set a calendar reminder
Life evolves. Your documents should be able to evolve with it. Set an annual invite to make updates so you don’t forget, and make sure it’s a date you keep.
Reviewing them regularly means:
- Less stress during urgent moments
- Fewer unanswered questions for loved ones
- More confidence that your information reflects your real life
A little attention now can prevent a lot of confusion later.
