Estate Planning After Divorce: Essential Updates in MA

Going through a divorce is a significant life transition—one that impacts not only your emotional well-being but also your legal and financial future. At Long Hagan Huff-Harris, our Boston estate planning attorneys routinely advise individuals who have recently divorced to revisit and update their estate plans.

Failing to make changes to critical documents and financial accounts could result in your ex-spouse retaining authority or receiving assets you no longer intend for them. Estate planning post-divorce is a vital step to ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected.

Reassign Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney

During marriage, many people name their spouse as their medical health care proxy and financial power of attorney. After divorce, it’s essential to update these designations immediately. 

Consider selecting a trusted friend, sibling, or adult child instead. Our Massachusetts estate lawyers can help you quickly draft new health care proxy and power of attorney documents that reflect your current relationships and priorities.

Redesignate Beneficiaries

Assets like retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death bank accounts pass directly to named beneficiaries—regardless of what’s written in your estate planning documents. After divorce, you should update these beneficiary forms to remove your ex-spouse, if that’s your intent.

We’ve seen many cases where people forget this step, and ex-spouses end up receiving sizable assets by default. The process is simple, but it must be done correctly. Let our Boston estate planning team assist you in reviewing and updating all beneficiary designations.

Update Your Will and Trust

If your current will and/or trust names your ex-spouse as a beneficiary, personal representative, or trustee, those documents need to be revised or revoked. Under Massachusetts law, divorce may revoke certain provisions related to a former spouse, but relying on the courts alone isn’t a safe plan. You’ll want to:

• Name new beneficiaries for your estate

• Appoint a new personal representative or trustee

• Update guardianship designations for minor children

This ensures your assets and responsibilities are passed on according to your updated wishes, not outdated documents.

Don’t Leave Your Future to Chance

Divorce is a fresh start—but without updating your estate plan, you may unintentionally leave key decisions and assets in the wrong hands. At Long Hagan Huff-Harris, we work closely with recently divorced individuals across Boston and greater Massachusetts to ensure their estate plans reflect their new reality.

Schedule Your Estate Plan Review Today

The aftermath of a divorce is overwhelming enough—don’t add uncertainty about your estate to the list. Our compassionate, experienced Boston estate planning lawyers can guide you through every update with care and clarity.

Contact Long Hagan Huff-Harris today to schedule a personalized complimentary estate planning consultation and gain peace of mind knowing your legal documents are up-to-date and working for your future.