You did it. You sat down, thought carefully about your family’s future, and created a will. That’s a huge accomplishment, and you should feel good about taking that step to protect the people you love most.

But here’s something many Georgia families don’t realize: a will isn’t a “set it and forget it” document. Life changes, and your will should change with it. Think of your will like a family photo on your mantle—it captures a moment in time, but as your family grows and evolves, you’ll want to update that picture.

So how often should you dust off your will and make sure it still reflects your wishes? Let’s walk through this together.

The General Rule: Review Every Three to Five Years

Even if nothing dramatic has happened in your life, it’s wise to pull out your will and give it a read-through every three to five years. Laws change, your assets may have grown or shifted, and your relationships with the people named in your will might have evolved.

During these routine reviews, you’re simply asking yourself: “Does this still make sense for my family?” If the answer is yes, wonderful—tuck it back in your safe place and set a reminder to check again in a few years. If something feels off, that’s your cue to reach out to an estate planning attorney.

But beyond these regular check-ins, certain life events should prompt an immediate review. Let’s talk about what those are.

Major Life Events That Mean It’s Time to Update

Marriage or Remarriage

Getting married is one of the most significant legal changes you can experience. In Georgia, marriage doesn’t automatically revoke your existing will, but it almost certainly means your wishes have changed. You’ll likely want your new spouse to inherit from you, and you may need to think about how to balance providing for a new spouse while also protecting children from a previous relationship.

If you’re remarrying later in life, estate planning becomes even more important. Blended families have unique needs, and a will that was written before your marriage probably doesn’t account for your new family structure.

Divorce

Here’s some good news: Georgia law automatically revokes any provisions in your will that benefit your former spouse once your divorce is final. However, relying on this automatic protection isn’t the best approach. After a divorce, you’ll want to actively decide who should receive your assets, who should serve as executor (the person who carries out your will’s instructions), and who should be named as guardian for your minor children.

Don’t forget about beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and bank accounts. These don’t automatically update after divorce, so you’ll need to change those separately.

Birth or Adoption of a Child or Grandchild

Welcoming a new little one into your family is a joyful occasion—and an important time to update your will. You’ll want to name a guardian for minor children (the person who would raise them if something happened to you), and you may want to adjust how your assets are divided to include the new arrival.

In Georgia, children born after a will is created may still be entitled to a share of your estate under certain circumstances, but it’s far better to explicitly include them in your will rather than leaving things to chance or court interpretation.

Death of a Beneficiary or Executor

If someone named in your will passes away before you do, you’ll need to update your documents. This includes beneficiaries (the people who inherit from you), your executor, and any backup individuals you’ve named for these roles.

Without an update, your assets might not go where you’d want them to, or the court might need to step in to appoint someone to handle your estate—and that person might not be who you would have chosen.

Significant Changes in Your Assets

Have you bought a home, sold a business, received an inheritance, or experienced a major increase or decrease in your wealth? These financial shifts warrant a will review.

Your will might leave specific items to specific people, and if you no longer own those items, those gifts can’t be fulfilled. Or you might have new assets that you want to specifically address. A will that was written when you had modest savings might not work well for a more complex financial picture.

Moving to Georgia from Another State

Welcome to the Peach State! If you’ve recently moved to Georgia from another state, it’s important to have your will reviewed by a Georgia attorney. While wills that are valid in other states are generally recognized here, each state has its own laws about how wills are executed and interpreted.

Having a Georgia attorney review your documents ensures everything complies with our state’s requirements and that your wishes will be carried out as smoothly as possible.

Changes in Relationships

Not every change is a legal milestone like marriage or divorce. Sometimes relationships simply evolve. Maybe you’ve grown closer to a niece who you’d now like to include in your will. Perhaps a friendship has ended with someone you’d previously named as executor. Or maybe one of your children has developed struggles with addiction or financial management that make you reconsider leaving them an outright inheritance.

Your will should reflect your current relationships and your honest assessment of what’s best for everyone involved.

Changes in Your Beneficiaries’ Circumstances

Speaking of your beneficiaries, their life changes can affect your planning too. If a loved one develops a disability and begins receiving government benefits, a direct inheritance could disqualify them from those benefits. In this case, you might want to consider a special needs trust instead.

If a beneficiary goes through a divorce, gets into financial trouble, or develops issues that concern you, it might be time to add protections to your plan.

What About Georgia Law Changes?

Estate planning laws do change from time to time at both the state and federal level. Tax laws, in particular, can shift significantly. While you don’t need to update your will every time a new law passes, it’s worth having a conversation with your attorney if you hear about major changes that might affect estate planning.

This is another reason why those regular three-to-five-year check-ins matter. Your attorney can let you know if any legal changes should prompt updates to your documents.

Updating Your Will Is Usually Simpler Than You Think

Many people put off updating their will because they imagine it will be complicated or expensive. In reality, updates are often straightforward—especially if you’re working with an attorney who already knows your family situation.

Minor changes can sometimes be made through a document called a codicil, which is essentially an amendment to your existing will. For more significant changes, it might make sense to create a new will entirely. Your attorney can help you determine the best approach based on your specific situation.

Don’t Let Your Will Become Outdated

An outdated will can create confusion, conflict, and unintended consequences for your family. The people you wanted to protect might not receive what you intended. Someone you no longer trust might be in charge of carrying out your wishes. Children or grandchildren might be accidentally left out.

The good news is that keeping your will current doesn’t require constant attention—just a willingness to revisit it at regular intervals and after major life events.

If it’s been a while since you’ve looked at your will, or if you’ve experienced any of the life changes we’ve discussed, we’d love to help. At Jabbour Law Firm, we make estate planning approachable and stress-free for Georgia families. Reach out to schedule a conversation about whether it’s time to update your plan.