Your Estate Plan Is Signed—Now What?

Funding, Follow-Up, and Making Sure It Actually Works When It Matters Most

You’ve signed your estate planning documents. The binder is neatly organized, the signatures are notarized, and everything is officially complete. Time to check “estate plan” off your list and move on, right?

Not quite.

While signing is an essential milestone, it’s only the beginning of a truly effective plan. Without the right follow-up and ongoing attention, your estate plan may not function the way you intend when your loved ones need it most.

Here’s what comes next—and why it matters:

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1. Funding Your Trust: The Most Overlooked Step

If you’ve created a living trust, the next critical step is to fund it—which means retitling assets into the name of the trust.

Think of your trust like a suitcase: you can pack it with thoughtful instructions, but if none of your assets are actually placed inside, the suitcase doesn’t do much good. Without proper funding:

• Your home might still have to go through probate.
• Your beneficiaries might not get immediate access to what you’ve left for them.
• The plan you worked hard to create may be delayed or even derailed.

Common assets that may need funding include:

• Bank accounts
• Real estate
• Brokerage accounts
• Business interests
• Life insurance and retirement accounts (with updated beneficiary designations)

This step can feel administrative, but it’s essential—and we’re here to guide you through it.

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2. Communicating Your Plan (Without Creating Drama)

While you don’t need to share every detail, it’s wise to let your key people know:

• That you have an estate plan.
• Where it’s stored.
• What roles they’ve been named for (e.g., Trustee, Power of Attorney, Health Care Agent).
• How to reach your legal team if something happens.

This communication prevents confusion and gives your loved ones a chance to ask questions—or get comfortable with their future responsibilities.

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3. Keeping Your Plan Up to Date

Life changes. And your estate plan should reflect that.

Here are some moments when you should review or update your plan:

• Marriage, divorce, or remarriage
• Birth or adoption of a child or grandchild
• Major health changes
• A move to a new state
• A change in financial circumstances
• Death or incapacity of someone named in your plan
• Significant tax law changes

We recommend a brief annual check-in and a more thorough review every 3–5 years to ensure everything still fits your life and goals.

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4. Storing and Accessing Your Plan

It’s not enough to have the documents—you need to know where they are and how to access them quickly in an emergency.

We recommend:

• Keeping originals in a fire-safe place or with your attorney.
• Ensuring digital copies are securely stored and shared with trusted people.
• Using a service like DocuBank or Everplans to make emergency medical directives instantly accessible.

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5. Making It Work When It Matters Most

An estate plan should not only reflect your wishes—it should function smoothly in real life.

That means:

• Your successor trustees and agents know what to do (and whom to call).
• Your assets are titled correctly and accessible.
• Your instructions are clear and legally enforceable.
• Your family isn’t left scrambling or uncertain.

It’s the difference between a plan that looks good on paper and one that works exactly as intended.

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Final Thoughts

You’ve taken the important step of creating your estate plan. That’s no small accomplishment.

Now, let’s make sure it continues to protect you and your loved ones—because a well-followed-up plan is a gift that keeps working behind the scenes, quietly creating peace of mind for years to come.