New Year, New Plan: 5 Essential Estate Planning Resolutions for 2026

The confetti has settled, the champagne glasses are put away, and the calendar has flipped to a fresh page. While many of us focus on hitting the gym or saving money as our primary resolutions, there is one area of life that deserves just as much attention: your legacy.

We often think of estate planning as a “someday” task—something to handle later when we have more time. But if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that life is unpredictable. This year, instead of vague promises to get organized, why not make concrete resolutions that protect your family and your future?

Here are five practical estate planning resolutions to guide you into 2026 with peace of mind.

1. Dust Off and Review Your Existing Will

When was the last time you actually read your will? For many, it was the day they signed it. Life moves fast, and your documents need to keep up. A will created five or ten years ago likely doesn’t reflect your current reality.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Have you moved to a new state?
• Have you gotten married or divorced?
• Have you had more children or grandchildren?
• Has the value of your assets changed significantly?

If the answer to any of these is “yes,” your will might be outdated. Make a resolution to pull your documents out of the filing cabinet (or safe deposit box) and give them a thorough read-through. If something feels off or outdated, it probably is.

2. Double-Check Your Beneficiary Designations

This is one of the most common oversights in estate planning. Many people assume their will controls everything, but that isn’t always true. Assets like 401(k)s, IRAs, and life insurance policies are often governed by beneficiary forms, not your will.

If you listed your ex-spouse as the beneficiary on a life insurance policy twenty years ago and never changed it, they could legally receive that payout—even if your will says otherwise.

Action Item: Log into your financial accounts this month. Verify who is listed as primary and contingent beneficiaries. Ensure the names match your current wishes and that you have backups listed in case something happens to your primary choice.

3. Create or Update Your Advance Directives

Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you pass away; it’s equally about protecting yourself while you are alive. If you were to become incapacitated due to an accident or illness, who would pay your bills? Who would make medical decisions for you?

Without a Durable Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy, your family might be forced to go through a lengthy and expensive court process to get guardianship over you just to manage your basic affairs.

Resolve to put these documents in place. If you already have them, check with your attorney to ensure they are still compliant with current laws, as these regulations can change.

4. Start the Conversation About Long-Term Care

No one likes to think about needing nursing home care or assisted living, but ignoring the possibility doesn’t make it go away. The cost of long-term care continues to rise, and without a plan, these costs can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings.

This year, resolve to look into Medicaid Planning or Long-Term Care Insurance. Strategies exist that can help you protect your assets—like your home and savings—while still ensuring you qualify for the care you need down the road. The earlier you plan for this, the more options you generally have available.

5. Organize Your Digital Legacy

We live online now more than ever. What happens to your social media accounts, your email, your cloud photo storage, and your cryptocurrency wallets if something happens to you?

Traditional estate plans often overlook digital assets. If your family doesn’t have your passwords or know where your digital accounts are located, those memories and assets could be lost forever.

Action Item: Create a secure inventory of your digital assets. List your accounts, usernames, and instructions on how to access them. Store this list securely—do not put passwords directly in your will, as wills become public record after probate. Keep this list with your other estate planning documents or use a secure digital password manager with emergency access features.

Taking the First Step

Resolutions are easy to make but hard to keep. The difference with estate planning is that once you get it done, you don’t have to think about it every day like a diet or exercise routine. You do the work, you sign the papers, and you gain the security of knowing your family is protected.

If you are ready to check these boxes off your list, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 1 (800) 680-1717. Let’s make 2026 the year you secure your legacy.

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