Last Call: Year-End Deadlines for Estate Plan Updates

As the year winds down, it’s easy to get swept up in holiday plans, family gatherings, and wrapping up work projects. But before you turn the calendar, there’s one more thing to check off your list: making sure your estate plan is up to date.

Why now? Because year-end is more than just a symbolic finish line—it’s a strategic deadline. Many legal, financial, and tax-related updates must be completed before December 31 to count for the current year. Waiting until January can mean missed opportunities, higher costs, or scrambling to fix issues later.

Year-End Is a Natural Checkpoint

Just as businesses close their books and investors review their portfolios, the end of the year is the perfect time to take stock of your estate plan. A quick review can uncover whether your documents still reflect your wishes, your assets, and current law. If they don’t, addressing those changes before December 31 ensures you start the new year in a strong position.

Key areas to consider before year-end:

• Gifting Opportunities: Annual exclusion gifts (currently $17,000 per person in 2025) must be made before year-end to count toward this year’s tax benefits.
  
• Trust Funding and Deeds: If you acquired property, started a new account, or made business changes this year, make sure everything is properly titled in your trust before the year ends.
  
• Beneficiary & Fiduciary Updates: Family dynamics shift—review whether your trustees, executors, guardians, or beneficiaries are still the right fit.
  
• Tax Law Changes: Major shifts—like the upcoming 2026 estate tax exemption sunset—make year-end a smart time to implement planning strategies while current exemptions still apply.
  

 Waiting Can Cost You

Many families put off making updates until “after the holidays,” but estate planning often involves coordinating attorneys, financial advisors, CPAs, and sometimes even county recorder offices. That means December is not the time to delay—it’s the time to act.

Missing year-end deadlines can result in:

• Losing out on valuable tax savings or gifting opportunities.
  
• Increased legal fees and rushed timelines in the new year.
  
• Documents that don’t reflect new assets or family changes.
  
• Limited availability for signings, notaries, and attorney review during the busy January season.
  

A Little Action Now = Peace of Mind Later

The good news? Estate plan updates don’t always require a full overhaul. For many families, it’s simply a matter of:

• Updating a few names or roles in their documents.
  
• Signing a deed or retitling an account.
  
• Making a year-end gift or trust contribution.
  
• Scheduling a quick review to align everything with your current goals.
  

Taking these steps now ensures your plan enters the new year ready to protect your family and maximize available opportunities—without the stress of rushing against future deadlines.

Bottom line: Treat year-end estate planning like a final boarding call. The clock is ticking, but there’s still time to make meaningful updates before December 31. A quick review now can prevent missed opportunities and give you confidence heading into the new year.

Ready to get started? Schedule your year-end estate plan review today.