Your Year-End Estate Planning Checklist: Five Things to Review Before 2026

As the end of the year approaches, many of us start wrapping up projects, setting new goals, and trying to finish the year with a sense of completion. You may be organizing your finances, planning holiday travel, or looking ahead to next year’s priorities.

There is one more task that deserves a place on that list, reviewing your estate plan.

‍Estate planning is not a one time event. It is a living process that should evolve as your life, your family, and your finances change. A short year end review helps you confirm that your plan still reflects your values and protects the people and causes that matter most to you.

Whether you created your plan this year or several years ago, this checklist will help you know exactly where to look before 2026 begins.

1. Review who is in charge

Every estate plan depends on people, not just documents. Your executors, trustees, and agents under powers of attorney are the ones who will carry out your wishes and make decisions if you cannot.

Begin by asking a few simple questions. Are they still the right fit for these roles? Are they local and reasonably available if something happens. Have their circumstances or yours changed in ways that could affect their ability to serve.

For example, a sibling who lived nearby when you signed your plan may have moved across the country. A parent who once felt like the obvious choice may now be older or facing health concerns of their own. Relationships can deepen or become strained over time.

If anything about your choices no longer feels right, this is the time to update your designations. Making these changes while you are healthy and clear headed protects your loved ones from confusion and conflict later.

2. Check beneficiaries and account designations

This step is quick, but it is one of the most important parts of a year end review. Look at the named beneficiaries on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, payable on death accounts, and transfer on death registrations.

Many people are surprised to learn that these beneficiary designations often control what happens to an account, even if your will or trust says something different. If the names on the form are outdated, the result may not match your current wishes.

Think about what has changed in your family. Have there been marriages, divorces, births, adoptions, or deaths since you last checked your accounts? Did you intend to include or exclude a certain person, but never updated the paperwork after a life event?

Take time to confirm that every account lists the correct primary and contingent beneficiaries, and that the names are spelled correctly. This simple step can prevent accidental disinheritance, assets flowing to an ex spouse, or loved ones being left out because an old form was never updated.

3. Reflect on what changed financially this year

Your estate plan should mirror your real financial picture, not last year’s version of it. Any meaningful change in your assets can affect how your plan works in practice.

Ask yourself what shifted this year. Did you buy a home, investment property, or vacation property? Did you start or sell a business? Did you move significant investments from one institution to another or change how accounts are titled.

If you created a revocable living trust, have new accounts and properties been properly linked to that trust. If not, those assets may still need to go through probate, even though you believed you had avoided it.

A year end review is a good time to gather a current list of your assets and how each one is owned. With that list in hand, you and your estate planning attorney can make sure your documents and your real world assets match. That alignment keeps your plan efficient and reduces the risk of assets getting stuck in court or distributed in a way you did not intend.

4. Stay ahead of legal and tax changes

Estate planning does not happen in a vacuum. Laws change, tax thresholds adjust, and planning opportunities can open or close over time. A plan that was tax efficient a few years ago may need a new strategy as federal or state rules shift.

One key example is the expected change to the federal estate tax exemption in 2026. Under current law, the exemption is scheduled to be reduced, which means more families may find themselves closer to, or above, the taxable threshold. For business owners, owners of multiple properties, or families with significant investment or retirement assets, this change can be especially important.

Now is a smart time to talk with your professional advisors, including your estate planning attorney, financial advisor, and tax professional, about how upcoming changes could affect your plan. You might explore options such as lifetime gifting, trust based planning, or other strategies that allow you to take advantage of current rules while they are still in place.

A proactive review now can save your loved ones from unnecessary complexity, delay, and expense in the future. It can also give you peace of mind that you are not leaving money on the table simply because the law changed and your plan did not.

5. Revisit your legacy beyond the numbers

A strong estate plan does more than distribute assets. It tells a story about who you are, what you value, and how you hope your family will be cared for and supported after you are gone.

Take a moment to reflect on questions that go beyond dollars and documents. Does your plan still reflect the legacy you want to leave? Are there charitable causes that have become more important to you? Are there new grandchildren or family goals you would like your plan to support, such as education, a first home, or care for a vulnerable family member?

You might also consider how clearly you have shared your wishes with the people who will carry them out. Even the most carefully drafted plan can create stress if no one understands the reasons behind your choices. A thoughtful conversation, or a written letter of guidance, can help your loved ones feel supported instead of left to guess.

When your legal documents and your personal intentions are both clear, your family receives not only financial support, but also emotional clarity and a sense of direction.

How a year-end review brings peace of mind

Taking a few hours before the end of the year to review your plan is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress and protect your family. An outdated plan can lead to confusion, delays in probate, and disagreements among the people you care about most. An updated plan creates calm, because everyone knows what you wanted and how to carry those wishes out.

This review does not need to feel overwhelming. You can approach it as a natural part of closing out the year, just like reviewing your finances or setting goals for the future. Start with your key decision makers, then your beneficiary designations, your financial changes, and the legal or tax landscape. Finally, spend time reconnecting with the legacy you want to create.

If you feel stuck on any piece, that is a sign to reach out for guidance, not a sign to give up. Estate planning is complex behind the scenes, but your experience of it should feel clear and supportive, not confusing.

Ready to review your plan before 2026?

At Dolev Law, we help families and business owners across Oregon and Washington create and maintain estate plans that evolve as their lives change. We focus on education, clarity, and long term partnership so you understand your choices and feel confident in your decisions.

If it has been more than a year since you reviewed your plan, or if this year brought new changes to your family, your finances, or your business, now is an ideal time to reconnect. 

Together, we can make sure your plan still does exactly what you want it to do and that it is ready for the changes expected in 2026 and beyond.

To schedule your Life and Legacy Planning Session® and begin your year end review, visit our website or contact our office to book a time that works for you. Your future, and your family, are worth the conversation.