I took this photo a few weeks ago, when the trees were hitting their peak in northern Wisconsin. Today, all the leaves on the trees in my yard have now fallen. That means I am spending the day cleaning them up and preparing for winter.
Just like the seasons change, we often have "seasons" in life. A change in "season" in your life can be something like moving to a new state, getting married, having a child, adopting a child, sending children off to college, or away from home. When life's "seasons" change, it is also a good time to take a minute and think about your estate plan. Do you have a guardian designated for your new child? Have you updated your Will since the birth of your most recent child? Do you have a Power of Attorney for Healthcare designated for you and your spouse, and for any child over the age of 18? Is it time to think about forming a Revocable Living Trust to hold the property you own in multiple states? These are just a few of the questions to think about.
A good rule of thumb is to review your estate plan every five years, or more often if you have a "change of season" in life, such as one of the life events discussed above.
