Spring Clean Your Will: Why You Should Review Your Estate Plan Annually

Spring is the season of fresh starts. From decluttering your wardrobe to sprucing up the garden, it’s a time when many of us tidy, organise, and reset for the year ahead. But while you’re dusting off shelves and sorting out paperwork, there’s one important task that often gets overlooked:

Reviewing your will.

Much like your home, your will can benefit from a good spring clean. Life moves quickly — family dynamics shift, financial circumstances evolve, and the law changes. That’s why experts recommend reviewing your estate plan at least once a year or after any major life event.

In this article, we’ll explore why regularly revisiting your will matters, when to do it, and what to look out for — so your final wishes remain as relevant and effective as the day they were written.

Why You Shouldn’t ‘Set and Forget’ Your Will

Making a will is essential to protecting your loved ones and ensuring your wishes are followed after you’re gone. But many people treat it as a one-time task—something you write, file away, and never look at again.

Here’s why that can be a problem:

• Your beneficiaries may change (births, deaths, marriages, estrangements).
• Your assets and finances might grow or shift.
• Your chosen executors or guardians may no longer be suitable.
• Inheritance tax thresholds or legal rules may change.
• You might simply have a change of heart.

An outdated will can lead to confusion, disputes, delays, or even unintended consequences after your death. In some cases, it may no longer be valid at all.

That’s why reviewing your will annually — just like spring cleaning — is a smart habit that keeps your affairs in order.

How Often Should You Review Your Will?

As a general rule, you should review your will:

• Once a year – a regular annual check keeps things current
• After major life events (see list below)
• When your financial situation significantly changes
• When tax laws or estate planning rules are updated.

You don’t always need to make changes, but checking your will against your current life situation ensures it still reflects your wishes.

Life Events That Should Trigger a Will Review

Certain life events should prompt you to revisit your estate plan. These include:

✅ Marriage or Civil Partnership

Getting married automatically revokes most existing wills in England and Wales unless they are made in contemplation of marriage. You’ll need to create a new will to reflect your new marital status.

✅ Divorce or Separation

While divorce removes your ex-spouse as a beneficiary or executor, the rest of your will remains intact — which may not be ideal. If you’re separated but not divorced, your ex could still inherit.

✅ Birth or Adoption of a Child

Welcoming a child into your life often changes your priorities. You may want to appoint guardians or adjust how your estate is distributed.

✅ Death of a Beneficiary, Executor, or Guardian

If someone named in your will passes away, it’s essential to update it with new appointments or instructions.

✅ Buying or Selling Property

A change in your property portfolio or main residence can affect the value of your estate and how it is passed on.

✅ Change in Financial Circumstances

Increased wealth, inheritance, or business interests may require updated estate planning or tax considerations.

✅ Health Concerns or a Diagnosis

Long-term illness may prompt changes in how you want your affairs handled, including power of attorney.

✅ Gifting or Making Lifetime Transfers

If you’ve made significant gifts to beneficiaries during your lifetime, you might want to adjust your will to account for that.

What to Look for When Reviewing Your Will

When you sit down for your annual will review, consider the following:

‍‍‍ Are the Beneficiaries Correct?

• Are all your intended loved ones named?
• Has anyone been born, died, or become estranged?
• Do you still want your estate divided in the same way?

⚖️ Are the Executors and Guardians Still Suitable?

• Are they alive, capable, and willing to act?
• Are they still the best people for the job?
• Do you want to appoint a professional executor (e.g. a solicitor)?

Do the Asset Details Need Updating?

• Have you bought, sold, or inherited property?
• Do you own new investments, businesses, or overseas assets?
• Do you want to leave specific items or sums of money?

Do the Instructions Still Reflect Your Wishes?

• Any changes to funeral wishes?
• Are there charitable gifts you’d like to include?
• Have your views changed around who should receive what?

Are There Tax Implications to Consider?

• Does your estate exceed the Inheritance Tax (IHT) threshold?
• Could gifts or trusts help reduce IHT liability?
• Do you need advice on nil rate bands or residence relief?

Should You Update Your Will or Write a New One?

In some cases, minor updates can be made using a codicil — a legal document that amends specific parts of your existing will.

A codicil might be used to:

• Change an executor or guardian
• Add or remove a specific gift
• Update a name or address.

However, for significant changes, it’s usually better to write a new will. This ensures clarity, avoids conflicting instructions, and reduces the risk of your will being challenged.

Your solicitor can help you decide which route is best for your situation.

What About Other Estate Planning Documents?

While you’re reviewing your will, it’s worth checking the rest of your estate plan too:

✅ Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)

Do your chosen attorneys still reflect your wishes for handling your finances or health decisions if you lose capacity?

✅ Life Insurance and Pension Beneficiaries

Are the nominated beneficiaries still correct? Some of these are dealt with outside your will, so you may need to contact providers directly.

✅ Digital Assets and Passwords

Have you included instructions for managing your digital life — such as social media, online banking, or cloud storage?

Why You Should Work with a Solicitor

While DIY will kits are available, estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. Small mistakes can have big consequences, especially as laws evolve and family dynamics become more complex.

A qualified solicitor can help you:

• Ensure your will is legally valid and clearly worded.
• Advise on tax-efficient strategies.
• Create trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries or minor children.
• Safeguard digital and international assets.
• Avoid common pitfalls and disputes.

Most importantly, they help you feel confident that your legacy will be handled the way you want it to be.

If you need a solicitor in the UK, Burt Brill & Cardens offers clear, compassionate advice to help you write, update, or review your will. Whether it’s been five years or five decades since you last looked at your estate plan, their team of experienced will, trust and probate solicitors can guide you.

Time for a Review?

Your will isn’t just a legal document — it’s a reflection of your values, your priorities, and your love for those you leave behind. Just as you wouldn’t let your garden become overgrown or your finances fall into disarray, your estate plan deserves regular care and attention.

So this spring, as you declutter your home and open the windows to a fresh breeze, take a moment to dust off your will and give it a thoughtful review. It could be one of the most important spring cleaning tasks you do this year.