Just Married? Here’s How to Update Your Estate Plan
- twarnock16
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Start Your Life Together with a Strong Foundation
Marriage is an exciting new chapter—but amid the celebrations, name changes, and honeymoon planning, don’t overlook one of the most important to-dos for your future: updating your estate plan. Whether you’re blending finances, buying a home, or starting a family, marriage significantly changes your legal and financial landscape. Making sure your estate plan reflects your new marital status is essential for protecting your spouse, your assets, and your wishes.
1. Update Your Will and Trust after getting married
Your will should reflect your new priorities as a married couple. If you had a will before marriage, now’s the time to revise it to:
Include your spouse as a beneficiary
Appoint your spouse (or another trusted person) as your personal representative
Adjust any specific bequests you no longer intend to make
If you don’t yet have a revocable living trust, consider creating one. A trust allows you and your spouse to manage your assets together and avoid probate, which can be especially helpful if you own property in multiple states or plan to have children.
2. Review Beneficiary Designations after getting married
Many accounts pass directly to beneficiaries and are not controlled by your will. After getting married, review and update your:
Life insurance policies
Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA)
Bank accounts with payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) designations
If you don’t update these, your assets could go to an ex, a parent, or someone unintended.
3. Update Your Durable Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives
It’s important to name someone you trust to handle financial or healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated. Most married couples want their spouse to act in this role—but unless you name them in a durable power of attorney and a designation of health care surrogate, they may not have the legal authority to act on your behalf.
Also update your living will to ensure your new spouse knows your wishes regarding end-of-life care.
4. Consider a Prenuptial (before) or Postnuptial Agreement (after getting married)
Marriage merges not only lives, but also liabilities. If either of you owns a business, has children from a prior relationship, or is entering the marriage with significant assets or debts, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can protect both parties and clarify expectations. This document can work alongside your estate plan to provide financial security and reduce the risk of future disputes.
5. Revisit Real Estate Ownership after getting married
If you’re buying a home together or adding your spouse to the title of an existing property, talk to an estate planning attorney about the best way to title the home. In Florida, married couples often choose tenancy by the entirety, which offers creditor protection and automatic transfer of ownership to the surviving spouse. If the home is your Florida homestead, special rules apply that may affect how it can be passed down in the future.
Marriage is more than a romantic union—it’s a legal and financial partnership. By updating your estate plan now, you can start your life together with clarity, peace of mind, and a plan for whatever the future may bring.
At The Warnock Law Group, we help newlyweds in Florida create estate plans that protect what matters most. Whether you’re building from scratch or updating an existing plan, we’ll guide you through every step with personalized support.
Ready to build your future together with confidence? Contact us today to schedule your estate planning consultation.
For a free consultation regarding or for further help with the
process please contact us at:
(239) 437-1197
6843 Porto Fino Cir,
Fort Myers, FL 33912, USA
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