National Estate Planning Awareness Week 2026: Is Your Plan Up to Date?

October 19–25, 2026, is National Estate Planning Awareness Week, an annual reminder of the importance of having a plan in place for yourself, your family, and your future.

Established through a U.S. House of Representatives resolution in 2008, National Estate Planning Awareness Week was created to help Americans better understand estate planning and its role in protecting their assets, loved ones, and wishes.

Estate Planning Is About More Than a Will

A Last Will and Testament is an important part of many estate plans, but a comprehensive plan may include much more. Depending on your circumstances, it can include trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, health care directives, and strategies for managing and transferring assets.

Together, these tools can help answer important questions: Who will manage your affairs if you become unable to do so? Who will make medical decisions on your behalf? How and when should your assets pass to your loved ones? And what steps can you take now to make things easier for your family later?

When Was the Last Time You Reviewed Your Estate Plan?

Creating an estate plan isn’t necessarily a one-time event. As your life changes, your plan may need to change with it.

Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, the death of a loved one, buying or selling property, retirement, changes in your finances, or changes in the law can all be reasons to revisit your existing documents.

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a great opportunity to ask yourself:

• Do I have an estate plan in place?
• Are my documents current?
• Are my beneficiary designations up to date?
• Do the people I have chosen to act on my behalf still make sense?
• Does my plan still reflect my wishes and my family’s needs?

If it has been several years since you reviewed your estate plan—or if you haven’t created one yet—now may be the right time to start the conversation.

If you would like to speak with an experienced elder law attorney regarding your situation or have questions about something you have read, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 1 (800) 680-1717. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.