When Should You Update Your Estate Plan in Missouri and Kansas?

Creating an estate plan is a significant step in protecting your family, preserving your wealth, and ensuring your wishes are honored. But estate planning is not a one-and-done process. As life changes, so should your plan. In Kansas and Missouri, reviewing and updating your estate plan regularly is essential to ensure it continues to reflect your goals, complies with current laws, and protects the people and assets you care about most.

Here are the most common life events and changes that should prompt you to update your estate plan.

1. Marriage or Divorce

Getting married or divorced has a direct impact on your estate plan. A new marriage may mean you want to add your spouse as a beneficiary, update powers of attorney, or create a joint trust. Likewise, after a divorce, you’ll likely want to remove your ex-spouse from your will, trust, and any healthcare or financial directives.

2. Birth or Adoption of a Child or Grandchild

The arrival of a new child or grandchild is a joyous occasion—and an important reason to revisit your estate plan. You may want to:

• Add the child as a beneficiary
• Designate guardians for minor children
• Establish or revise trusts to provide for their future needs
• Update life insurance and retirement plan beneficiary designations

Without a properly updated estate plan, a court could end up making decisions you would have preferred to handle yourself.

3. A Death in the Family

If a spouse, child, beneficiary, or someone you’ve named as a trustee, executor, or power of attorney passes away, your estate plan should be reviewed. You may need to name new individuals to fill those roles or change how assets are to be distributed.

4. Significant Change in Assets or Financial Situation

Whether you’ve sold a business, inherited money, acquired real estate in another state, or simply experienced a major change in net worth, your estate plan should be reviewed. These changes can affect:

• Tax planning strategies
• The structure and funding of any trusts
• Gifting opportunities
• The need for creditor protection or asset preservation planning

Failing to account for new or reduced assets may lead to unintended consequences—like inequitable distributions or increased estate tax exposure.

5. Change in State of Residence or Acquisition of Out-of-State Property

If you move into or out of Kansas or Missouri, or if you buy real estate in another state, it’s a good idea to update your estate plan. State laws can vary significantly, particularly when it comes to:

• Homestead and spousal property rights
• Probate rules and exemptions
• Estate or inheritance taxes (Missouri and Kansas do not currently impose these, but other states may)

Additionally, owning real estate in more than one state can result in multiple probate proceedings unless property is titled in a trust or otherwise planned for.

6. Changes in Estate Planning or Tax Laws

State and federal laws change frequently. The federal estate tax exemption, for example, is currently high but is set to drop significantly in 2026 unless Congress takes action. Kansas and Missouri may also make changes affecting probate or powers of attorney.

Even if nothing in your life has changed, it’s wise to have your estate plan reviewed by an attorney every few years to ensure your documents comply with current law and still meet your goals.

7. Change in Your Wishes or Relationships

Over time, your preferences may change. You may want to change who gets what, select a new executor, or adjust who will make decisions for you if you become incapacitated.

Personal relationships evolve, and people you once trusted to serve in key roles may no longer be the best fit. Updating your plan ensures your current preferences are honored.

How Often Should You Review Your Estate Plan?

As a general rule, you should review your estate plan:

• Every 3–5 years, even if no major changes have occurred
• Immediately after any of the life events listed above
• If your attorney recommends a review based on legal updates

Think of your estate plan as a living set of instructions—it should evolve as your life and family evolve.

Let Our Office Help You Keep Your Plan Up to Date

Our law firm works with clients throughout Kansas and Missouri to help them maintain effective, up-to-date estate plans. Whether you need a simple update or a complete overhaul, we can help you take the right steps to protect your family and preserve your legacy.

If it’s been a while since you last reviewed your plan—or if you’ve recently experienced a major life event—now is the time to act.

Schedule a consultation today and let’s ensure your estate plan still does what you want it to do.