July 6, 2021

There was a time in the past where people would have settled down and stayed in mostly the same location for the majority of their adult life, but that time has passed and the need for portability is now. With a mobile world people are changing jobs and even homes more than ever. Your estate plan, if you move from one state to another, is not as portable as you might expect.

Many people are under the impression that estate planning begins and ends in meeting with an estate planning lawyer to discuss basics, such as your will. It is certainly true that this is the cornerstone of a strong financial and estate plan but it must be updated or amended when any major life changes occur, including moving to a new location. Laws relating to probate and wills are not federal so each state has their own set of laws that will address what is or isn’t a valid will, trust, power of attorney or other estate planning documents.

While portions of your estate plan could be portable because a will that was validly executed and is recognized in another jurisdiction can be recognized in your new state, you’ll want to verify this as soon as you move to your new location. This is a good opportunity to discuss any other changes in your life that would warrant an update in your estate planning strategy. Finding the right attorney to help you execute on initial versions and updates to your estate planning strategy can help you heirs avoid unfortunate and unnecessary complications in the future.