Keeping your estate plan updated can be as important as preparing your personal taxes in the New Year, according to attorney Bob Ross of Ross Estate Planning in Sturgeon Bay. Ross says reviewing and updating one’s estate plan should be done periodically, mainly when changes occur in your family. He shares some life-changing events that may impact your estate and calls for making changes.

Ross adds that you may want to make changes to your advance financial and healthcare directives as well. Having those documents in place allows for family members or representatives to make financial, business, and healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated. Ross also notes that you may want to take advantage of charitable contributions for tax purposes before the New Year.