You finally did it. You signed all the documents, got your fancy estate planning binder, and felt like a responsible adult. Gold star, right?
But then… it sat there. Collecting dust. On a shelf, in a drawer, or maybe lost under a pile of kids’ artwork and tax receipts.
Here’s the deal, most attorneys won’t admit out loud:
Most estate plans fail.
Not because you screwed up. Not because your attorney wrote something wrong. And not because the law changed overnight.
They fail because no one told you what to do after the signing appointment. At Norton Estate Planning & Elder Law, we know that signing the documents is just the beginning. If you actually want your plan to work when your family needs it most, you’ve got to do these three things:
1. Keep Your Plan Updated
Your life isn’t static—your estate plan shouldn’t be either.
Think of it like your car. You wouldn’t drive it for 10 years without an oil change, would you? (Please say no.) Same idea applies here.
Update your plan if:
- You got married or divorced
- You had a child or grandchild
- You moved to another state
- You bought or sold property
Even if life feels stable, your choices for trustees or agents might evolve, and the laws definitely do.
Best practice: Review your plan every 2–3 years or after any major life event. And if your current firm doesn’t offer regular reviews, it might be time for an upgrade. (Spoiler: We do.)
2. Fund. Your. Trust.
You went through all the effort of setting up a trust—yay you! But did you actually move your stuff into it?
A trust without assets is like an empty purse. Pretty, but not doing you any good.
Quick checklist:
- Is your home deeded to your trust?
- Are your financial accounts titled correctly?
- Do your beneficiary designations match your estate plan?
Not sure? No shame. Most people miss this part. That’s why we help double-check and make sure your trust actually holds what it’s supposed to.
3. Loop in Your Helpers
You picked your trustee, executor, and power of attorney. But do they even know?
We’ve seen too many cases where someone passes away and their chosen helper is totally clueless. That delay? It can lead to court drama, family fights, and money headaches.
Make sure your helpers know:
- That they’ve been chosen
- What their job actually is
- How to reach your attorney (hi, that’s us)
- Where to find your documents
We even invite our clients’ helpers to workshops and training. Because a 20-minute convo now can save your family weeks of stress later.
Bonus: Quick Plan Check
Ask yourself:
- Have I reviewed my plan in the last 2 years?
- Is my home titled in my trust’s name?
- Are my accounts correctly assigned?
- Do my agents and trustees know they’ve been named?
- Do they know how to reach my attorney?
If you answered “No” to even one… yeah, it’s time to dust off that binder.
How We Keep Your Plan Alive
We don’t do “set it and forget it.” Our Compass Club makes sure your plan keeps up with your life.
What’s included:
- Annual reviews
- Legal update adjustments
- Ongoing funding support
- Training for your helpers
- 24/7 secure digital document access
Because your life is a moving target, and your plan should be ready for anything.
Bottom Line
You don’t have to start over. You just have to stay on top of it. And we’ll help you do exactly that.
So go grab that dusty binder, and let’s make sure it’s actually doing what you intended.
Request a Consultation today and let’s protect your people, your plan, and your peace of mind.
