Life moves fast, and your estate plan needs to keep up. Whether you created your trust five years ago or just last spring, changes in your family, finances, or the law may have left gaps you don’t even realize are there. At Rich, Fuidge, Bordsen & Galyean, we see it all the time—families in the Yuba-Sutter area who took the important first step of creating an estate plan but haven’t revisited it since. This spring is the perfect time to dust off those documents and make sure they still reflect your wishes.

Below are five areas every Yuba-Sutter family should review this year.

1. Check Your Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and bank accounts often override what your trust or will says. If you’ve gone through a major life change—a marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, or the passing of a loved one—your beneficiary designations may no longer match your intentions.

We recommend pulling out every account statement and confirming that the named beneficiaries are exactly who you want them to be. It’s one of the simplest updates you can make, but it’s also one of the most commonly overlooked.

2. Review Your Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney gives someone you trust the authority to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated. But circumstances change. The person you named ten years ago may no longer be the best choice—perhaps they’ve moved out of state, their own health has changed, or your relationship has shifted.

California law recognizes both durable powers of attorney for financial matters and advance health care directives for medical decisions. Make sure both documents name agents who are willing, able, and geographically close enough to step in quickly if needed. If you don’t have these documents at all, creating them should be a top priority this spring.

3. Make Sure Your Trust Is Properly Funded

Having a trust is only half the equation. If your assets aren’t titled in the name of your trust, they may still have to go through probate—exactly the outcome you were trying to avoid. This is especially common when people buy a new home, open a new bank account, or refinance a property after their trust was created.

Take an inventory of your major assets—real property, bank accounts, investment accounts, and vehicles—and confirm each one is either titled in the trust’s name or has a proper transfer-on-death designation. Our team at RFB&G can help you identify any gaps and get them corrected before they become a problem.

4. Account for New California Laws

Estate planning law doesn’t stand still. California regularly updates its probate code, tax thresholds, and property transfer rules. For example, changes to Proposition 19 continue to affect how property tax reassessments work when real estate is inherited. If your estate plan was drafted before these changes took effect, it may not be optimized for the current legal landscape.

Federal estate tax exemptions have also fluctuated in recent years. While most families in the Yuba-Sutter area fall below the federal threshold, it’s still worth confirming with your attorney that your plan accounts for current limits and any potential changes on the horizon.

5. Have the Conversation with Your Family

An estate plan only works if the people involved know it exists and understand their roles. Yet many families avoid this conversation altogether. Spring is a natural time for a reset—consider sitting down with your spouse, your adult children, or your designated agents and walking them through the basics: where your documents are stored, who your attorney is, and what your general wishes are.

You don’t need to share every financial detail. But making sure your loved ones aren’t caught off guard during a crisis is one of the most caring things you can do.

Final Thoughts

Estate planning isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s a living process that should evolve alongside your life. Whether you need a simple review or a more significant update, the attorneys at Rich, Fuidge, Bordsen & Galyean are here to help Yuba-Sutter families protect what matters most. Don’t wait for a crisis to find out your plan has gaps—reach out to us this spring and let’s make sure everything is in order.

FAQs for Estate Plan Updates

How often should I review my estate plan?

We recommend reviewing your estate plan at least every three to five years, or whenever you experience a major life event such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary, significant change in assets, or a move to a new state.

What’s the difference between a will and a trust?

A will goes through probate—a public court process that can take months and incur significant costs. A trust allows your assets to pass to your beneficiaries privately and typically much faster. For most families in California, a revocable living trust is the foundation of a solid estate plan.

Do I need an attorney to update my estate plan?

While some minor updates (like changing a beneficiary on a bank account) can be done on your own, we strongly recommend working with an experienced estate planning attorney for any changes to your trust, powers of attorney, or health care directives. Improperly executed changes can create more problems than they solve.

What happens if I die without an estate plan in California?

If you pass away without a will or trust, California’s intestate succession laws determine how your assets are distributed. This may not align with your wishes and can lead to lengthy court proceedings. Creating an estate plan ensures your assets go where you intend them to.