Estate Plan Annual Review to Make Sure it Works When the Time Comes

It’d be nice to do your estate plan once and never have to look at it again.  But we all know that’s not how life works.  If you purchased a car and never maintained it, would you be shocked if it left you stranded on the side of the road when you needed it most?  The same is true with your estate plan. If you don’t take the time to maintain it, don’t be surprise if it doesn’t work when the time comes.  Changes in relationships and/or circumstances may require changes to your estate plan for it to work.  Therefore, you need a system in place to catch those changes.

Ideally, when there’s a change in relationships and/or circumstances, you should immediately notify your attorney to learn if any changes need to be made to your estate planning documents to make sure the estate plan works when the time comes.  In the previous section, we’ve listed 44 changes in relationships and/or circumstances that may require you to make changes to your estate planning documents.  That’s a lot to remember.  And considering how busy our lives can get, it’s a lot to ask.  It’s better to have a system in place to catch them.

That’s why ThePeoplesLawFirm.com offers Estate Plan Annual Review to make sure your estate plan works when the time comes.  The annual review is a system to catch changes that happen throughout the year.  Here’s how it works:

 1.  Cost of Estate Plan Annual Review

The cost of the Estate Plan Annual Review depends on the size and complexity of your estate plan.  Once we take a look at what you got, we’ll quote you a flat fee and you decide if you want to do it.

2.  Process of Estate Plan Annual Review

a.  You Get the Checklist.     Every year, by January 31^st, we will send you a checklist identifying changes in relationships and circumstances that may require you to change your estate planning documents, preplanned funeral or insurance coverage;

b.  Check the Box(es) & Return the Checklist.  You’ll take a quick look at the list, check the box(es) that apply to you, and return it to us;

c.  Phone Call to Discuss What You Checked.  We’ll review your list and contact you to discuss it;

d.  Legal Review of Estate Plan Based on What You Checked.  After our discussion, we’ll review your estate planning documents, preplanned funeral arrangements, and insurance coverage to see if any changes need to be made;

e.  Letter Confirming No Changes.  If no changes need to be made, we’ll send you a letter confirming no changes necessary;

f.  Phone Call Explaining Needed Changes.  If changes need to be made, we’ll call you to discuss the recommended changes, and explain why they need to be made;

g.  Written Quote for Needed Changes.  After our discussion of the changes that need to be made, we’ll send you a written confirmation and the cost to make the changes;

h.  You Decide What You Want Done.  You take a look at the written recommendation and decide if you want to do it;

i.  Sign & Return the Written Recommendation.  If you decide to go with the recommendation, sign and return it to us with payment;

j.  We Make the Changes. Once we receive the written recommendation with your signature and payment, we make the necessary changes; and

k.  Appointment for Signatures & New Documents.  Once the work is done, we schedule an appointment with you to sign and deliver the new estate planning documents.

If you don’t have a system in place to catch changes during the year that may require you to make changes to your estate plan, then there’s a risk that your estate plan won’t work when the time comes.  That’s why we recommend that our clients sign up for the Estate Plan Annual Review, which is a system that does that.

3.  24/7 Digital Access to Your Estate Planning Documents

Another benefit of the Estate Plan Annual Review is you get 24/7 digital access to your estate planning documents.  We provide you with a secure password and you can log on any time and print out what you need.

Want Peace of Mind and a Complete Evaluation of Your Case? 

Call (610) 365-4986 NOW or Click HERE to Schedule a Consultation with Chester County Pennsylvania Estate Planning Attorney, Michaelangelo L. Dippolito.  Click HERE to see the attorney’s background. 

Not Ready to Speak to an Attorney Yet?  No Problem.

Get this FREE Book and Consumer Protection Guide, Will, Power of Attorney, Living Will & Trusts in Pennsylvania, A Consumer Protection Guide on What You Need to Know to Protect Your Legal Rights.  Here’s Some of What’s in the FREE Book and Consumer Protection Guide: 

• Optimal Estate Plan to Protect Your Life Savings and Family Relationships
• Why Your Retirement Plan Should be in a Trust
• An Estate Plan for 2^nd Marriages & Blended Families
• 44 Reasons Why You May Need to Update Your Estate Plan
• Annual Review of Your Estate Plan to Make Sure it Works
• Arming Yourself with Knowledge is the First Step to a New Beginning

Still Not Ready and Want to Learn More Before You Move Forward?  No problem.

Click HERE for more information on Will, Power of Attorney, Living Will, & Trusts in Pennsylvania, and remember, we’re just a phone call away at (610) 365-4986.