By: Rachael Rode, Attorney [Estate Planning]
Summary: Making estate planning the top priority for 2026 is argued to be the most critical New Year’s Resolution. Completing this process protects your wealth, ensures your medical wishes are honored, and secures your family’s future against potential crisis. Key steps include creating a Will, establishing Powers of Attorney, and updating beneficiary designations to avoid costly legal disputes and state control over your assets. Proactive legal planning provides immediate security, control, and peace of mind, proving that waiting costs far more than acting now.
As we turn the page on another year, many of us commit to improving our health, finances, and relationships. We join gyms, create budgets, and promise to spend more quality time with loved ones. But there’s one resolution that often gets overlooked despite its critical importance: getting our legal and financial affairs in order.
This year, make estate planning and elder law preparation your foundation for everything else. After all, what good is building wealth if you haven’t protected it? What’s the point of working hard for your family if you haven’t ensured they’ll be cared for according to your wishes?
Why Estate Planning Belongs at the Top of Your Resolution List:
It protects everything else you’re working toward. That gym membership and healthy eating plan? They’re investments in your longevity. But without proper legal planning, a medical crisis could derail your finances and leave your family scrambling. Advanced healthcare directives and powers of attorney ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones can act on your behalf when needed.
It’s the ultimate act of love. We often think of estate planning as something we do for ourselves, but it’s really a gift to those we care about most. Proper planning means your family won’t face confusion, conflict, or unnecessary expenses during an already difficult time. It means they’ll know exactly what you wanted and have the legal authority to carry out your wishes.
It provides immediate peace of mind. Unlike some resolutions that take months to show results, estate planning delivers instant relief. The moment your documents are signed, you can breathe easier knowing you’ve taken control of your future and protected your family’s security. Here at Indiana Estate and Elder Law we are in the ‘Peace of Mind’ business.
Building Your Financial Foundation: Key Steps for 2026
1. Create or Update Your Will and Trust
If you don’t have a will, you’re leaving major decisions about your assets, your minor children’s guardianship, and your legacy to state law rather than your own preferences. If you created estate planning documents years ago, they may no longer reflect your current assets, family situation, or wishes.
This year, commit to either establishing your foundational documents or reviewing existing ones to ensure they still serve your needs.
2. Establish Powers of Attorney
A durable power of attorney for finances and a healthcare representative are essential documents that allow trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Without these, your family may need to pursue costly and time-consuming guardianship proceedings.
3. Review Your Beneficiary Designations
Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other assets pass directly to named beneficiaries regardless of what your will says. Many people forget to update these after major life events like marriage, divorce, or the birth of children. Make 2026 the year you ensure all designations align with your current wishes.
4. Consider Long-Term Care Planning
With the costs of nursing homes and assisted living facilities continuing to rise, planning for potential long-term care needs is more important than ever. Medicaid planning, long-term care insurance, and strategic asset protection can help preserve your wealth while ensuring you receive quality care.
5. Plan for Business Succession
If you own a business, succession planning is critical not just for your family but for your employees, partners, and customers. Document your wishes for business continuity and create a transition plan that protects everyone’s interests.
Making It Happen: Your Action Plan
January: Schedule Your Consultation
Don’t let another month slip by. Contact Indiana Estate and Elder Law this month to schedule your FREE initial consultation. Come prepared with questions and a general inventory of your assets.
February: Gather Your Documents
Collect deeds, account statements, insurance policies, existing legal documents, and information about your family structure. Organization now saves time and money later. Keeping everything in one central location will make it easier on your executor or trustee to administer your estate once you pass away.
March: Complete Your Plan
Work with us to draft and finalize your documents. Once signed and properly executed, store them safely and inform your designated agents where they can be found.
Throughout the Year: Communicate Your Estate Plans
Have conversations with your family about your plans. While you don’t need to share every detail, letting loved ones know your wishes and where to find important documents can prevent confusion and conflict later.
The Cost of Waiting to Plan
Many people put off estate planning because they assume it’s expensive, complicated, or only for the elderly. The truth is that waiting almost always costs more than acting now. Without proper planning, your family may face probate costs, estate taxes, family disputes, and legal fees that far exceed the investment in proper planning.
Moreover, none of us can predict when we’ll face a medical emergency or face incapacity. Estate planning isn’t just for the elderly or the wealthy—it’s for anyone who wants control over their medical care, financial affairs, and legacy.
Your Future Self Will Thank You
When December 2026 arrives and you’re reflecting on the past year, imagine the satisfaction of knowing you’ve completed one of the most important tasks any adult can undertake. While others may have abandoned their resolutions by February, you’ll have created lasting protection for yourself and your loved ones.
Estate planning isn’t glamorous. It won’t give you six-pack abs or a perfectly organized closet. But it will give you something far more valuable: security, control, and peace of mind.
This year, resolve to make your legal planning the foundation upon which all your other goals can safely rest. Your family’s future is too important to leave to chance.
Ready to make estate planning your priority in 2026?
Contact Indiana Estate and Elder Law today to schedule your FREE initial consultation. Let’s work together to build a secure foundation for everything you’re working toward this year and beyond.