Annual Estate Planning Review Checklist for Texas Residents
Estate planning is not a “one-and-done” task.
Even a well-drafted plan can become outdated when life changes — and many Texas families don’t realize a plan needs review until a crisis reveals missing authority, outdated beneficiaries, or unclear instructions.
An annual review helps ensure your estate plan still works the way you intended.
This checklist can serve as a yearly reminder to update your documents and confirm that your family protections remain aligned with your life.
Why Annual Estate Plan Review Matters
An annual review helps prevent:
✅ outdated executors, trustees, or agents
✅ guardianship nominations that no longer make sense
✅ beneficiary designation mistakes
✅ uncoordinated assets and titles
✅ documents that institutions won’t accept
✅ unintended probate delays
✅ confusion for your family during emergencies
Even small updates can prevent major future stress.
Annual Texas Estate Planning Review Checklist
Use this checklist once per year, and also after major life events.
✅ 1) Confirm Your Core Estate Documents
Check whether you have current versions of:
Will
Trust (if applicable)
Durable financial power of attorney
Medical power of attorney
Advance directive / directive to physicians
HIPAA authorization (if included in your plan)
If any document is more than a few years old, review is often worthwhile.
✅ 2) Review Decision-Makers and Alternates
Confirm the people you named are still:
available and willing
appropriate for the role
financially responsible
emotionally stable
able to carry out your wishes
Review:
executors
trustees
guardians
financial agents
medical agents
alternates for each role
✅ 3) Review Beneficiary Designations
Many assets transfer by beneficiary designation — not by will.
Review:
retirement accounts
life insurance
payable-on-death accounts
transfer-on-death accounts
annuities
Confirm designations still match your plan and family reality.
✅ 4) Review Asset Titling and Ownership
Confirm your real-life ownership matches your plan:
real estate titles
business ownership interests
joint accounts
inheritance property
property purchased since your plan was created
If you have a trust, confirm whether the trust has been funded properly.
✅ 5) Review Life Changes
Annual review should include major changes such as:
marriage or divorce
new children or grandchildren
relocation
major financial changes
health changes
death or incapacity of a decision-maker
new caregiving responsibilities
changes in family relationships
Estate planning should reflect your actual life — not your life from years ago.
✅ 6) Confirm Document Access and Storage
A plan only works if your family can locate it.
Confirm:
where originals are stored
who knows how to access them
whether your executor or trustee knows where to find key documents
whether emergency healthcare documents are accessible
When to Schedule a Full Review
Many Texas families benefit from a review:
annually
or every 1–3 years
and always after major life changes.
Ready to create or update your Texas estate plan?
Estate planning is one of the most meaningful ways to protect your family, your values, and your long-term stability. The right plan creates clarity — not confusion.
Helpful resources:
If you’re ready to start planning, schedule a consultation to build a personalized estate plan aligned with your goals.