New Year, New Estate Plan

Are you starting the new year with goals that actually protect your future?

In this blog, I’ll walk you through why updating or creating your estate plan is one of the smartest New Year’s resolutions you can make, what life changes should push you to review your documents, and how doing it properly can save your family stress, confusion, and conflict. By the end, you’ll know exactly why an estate plan belongs on your 2026 to-do list and how it can give you peace of mind all year long.

NEW YEAR, NEW ESTATE PLAN

I always find that the start of a new year brings a feeling of hitting “reset,” and it’s the perfect moment to look at the things we often put off, including our estate plan.

Even though there’s never a bad time to sort out your Will or update it, the days following 1 January are a great reminder that life moves fast and your documents should keep up.

I see it all the time: people set up a Will years ago and assume it still fits their life.
But life isn’t a “set and forget” situation.

Relationships change, families grow, new assets come in, old ones go out, and sometimes people you once trusted aren’t the right choice anymore.

If you’ve had any major changes — a new child, a separation, buying property, starting a business, losing a loved one, or even just a shift in your goals — your estate plan should reflect that.

An outdated plan can cause delays, confusion, or conflict later on, and I’ve seen families go through unnecessary stress simply because a document wasn’t updated.

Getting a lawyer involved means everything is done properly, and your wishes are protected the way you intended.

My purpose here is simple: I want you to start your year knowing your loved ones are protected, and your affairs are in order.

If “sort out my estate plan” lands somewhere in your New Year’s resolutions, that’s a decision that can genuinely make 2026 smoother, safer, and much more secure for you and your family.

A new year always gives us a chance to reassess what really matters, and an updated estate plan is one of the simplest but most meaningful ways to protect the people you love.

Your future deserves attention this year, and reviewing your estate plan is a great place to start. I’m always here to guide you through it. If you need help, we're here at HazeLegal.

DISCLAIMER

This commentary is published by HazeLegal for general information only—it’s not legal advice. If you have questions or need advice for your specific situation, we recommend speaking to a lawyer or reaching out to us at http://hazelegal.com.au before making any decisions.

HazeLegal works closely with our sister company, WebWills, to bring you these resources.

© HazeLegal, Australia 2026.