Creating an estate plan is an important step — but it's not a one-time task. Life changes, and your plan needs to keep up. An outdated estate plan can be just as problematic as having no plan at all. Here are five life events that should prompt you to revisit your documents.

1. Marriage or Divorce

Getting married is one of the most common triggers for creating an estate plan — and divorce is one of the most common reasons to update one. After a marriage, you'll likely want to add your spouse as a beneficiary and possibly update your power of attorney and healthcare proxy. After a divorce, you'll almost certainly want to remove your former spouse from all of those roles.

Connecticut law does revoke certain provisions in favor of a former spouse after divorce, but it's far better to update your documents explicitly rather than rely on default legal rules.

2. The Birth or Adoption of a Child

The arrival of a child — whether by birth or adoption — is perhaps the most urgent reason to have a will in place. Your will is the only document where you can name a guardian for your minor children. Without it, a court will make that decision for you.

You may also want to consider a trust to manage assets for your children until they reach an age where you're comfortable with them receiving an inheritance outright.

3. A Significant Change in Assets

Buying a home, inheriting money, starting a business, or receiving a large gift can all change the complexity of your estate. If your net worth has grown substantially, your existing plan may no longer reflect your wishes or take advantage of available planning strategies.

Similarly, if you've sold a major asset or experienced a financial setback, your plan may need to be simplified or restructured.

4. The Death of a Beneficiary or Named Agent

If someone named in your estate plan — a beneficiary, executor, trustee, or agent under a power of attorney — has passed away, your documents need to be updated. Failing to do so can create confusion, delays, and potential legal complications for your family.

5. Moving to a New State

Estate planning laws vary by state. If you've moved to Connecticut from another state — or are planning to move — it's worth having your existing documents reviewed to make sure they comply with Connecticut law and still reflect your wishes.

As a general rule, it's a good idea to review your estate plan every three to five years even if none of these events have occurred. A brief review with your attorney can confirm that everything is still in order — or catch something that needs attention before it becomes a problem.