Spring Cleaning And Your Estate Plan

Published on

March 30, 2026

By Attorney Attorney James A. Spella and Bella Falk

As the weather warms and windows begin to open, spring cleaning naturally follows. But spring cleaning isn’t just for closets—it’s also the perfect time to dust off your estate plan, or finally put one in place.

Spring is a season of transition. For many, it means moving the snowblower to the back of the garage, bringing the lawn mower forward, planting flowers, preparing gardens, and opening up screen windows. It’s also an ideal time—if not every year, then periodically—to review your personal planning documents and overall organization.

It is important for everyone to have estate planning documents in place, yet many people delay because of a few common misconceptions.

You may think you are too young. In reality, you can create a will or trust at age 18 under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. More importantly, once you turn 18, your parents can no longer automatically make medical decisions or access your healthcare information. Having healthcare and financial powers of attorney in place ensures someone you trust can step in if needed.

You may also believe you are not wealthy enough to need a trust in place. However, anyone can benefit from a trust. One of the primary purposes of a Wisconsin trust is to help avoid probate and keep your assets organized and managed efficiently.

Another common misconception is that the online templates or AI-generated documents you created are good enough. While these tools may seem convenient, they cannot guarantee compliance with state-specific laws or that your documents will hold up in court.

Once these misconceptions are cleared up, the next step is making sure your plan is not only in place—but also complete, current, and functioning as intended.

Estate Planning Checklist

Ask yourself:

1. Do you have any estate planning documents?
If not, it is time to contact an estate planning attorney and schedule a meeting.

2. If you do have documents, when were they last updated?
If it has been more than 3–5 years, if you have experienced a major life change, or if the individuals you have named have changed, it may be time to review and update your plan.

Even if your answer to both questions above are yes and your documents are recent, there are additional steps you can take this spring to ensure your plan works effectively:

Have you provided your healthcare documents to your doctors?
Have you discussed the roles and expectations with the individuals named in your documents?
Have you updated beneficiary designations on bank accounts and insurance policies?
If you have a trust is it listed as the beneficiary on all of your assets new and old?
Have you completed and updated your personal property list?
Have you started your “Plan Today for Tomorrow” guide?

Plan Today for Tomorrow

As part of your planning, it is essential to organizecritical information for yourself and your loved ones. This includes:

Financial and personal information
Healthcare information
Funeral and burial preferences

This process often serves as a reminder to locate important information—or highlights steps you still need to take to document it.

Spring Cleaning Your "Stuff"

We are often reminded after a client’s passing that familymembers may not want—or may feel overwhelmed by—personal belongings.

As part of spring cleaning, take time to evaluate your possessions. Organizations such as Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul can bemeaningful recipients of items you no longer use but that may benefit others.

What Documents Should You Keep---and For How Long

Proper organization includes knowing what to retain:

Permanent: Birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage/divorce documents
7 years: Tax returns and supporting documentation
Duration of ownership: Property purchase and sale records
Ownership + 7 years: Investment and financial records
3–6 years: Credit card statements, medical insurance records
Passports & TSA Known Traveler Numbers: Keep for their duration

Miscellaneous But Critical Information

Organizing your digital and financial life is just as important

Maintain a secure list of usernames and passwords
Include login information for financial accounts and credit cards
List all bills paid automatically and from which accounts
Track subscriptions (streaming, newspapers, memberships), including payment methods and terms
Note the location of insurance policies (auto, homeowners, umbrella)

Final Suggestion

Prepare a short letter to the individual you trust to assist you during your lifetime and after your passing. This letter should clearly identify where your estate planning documents and critical information are located.

You do not need to share the contents of this letter—but you should ensure that the trusted individual knows where to find it when the time comes.

Next Steps

We recommend you consult with an experienced Wisconsin estate planning attorney to ensure that your objectives are met. Each legal situation is unique. This blog is for general educational purposes, you should review your individual planning with a qualified attorney.

If you have questions about this article or need assistance, please contact Schloemer Law Firm, S.C or one of our Estate Planning Attorney sat 262-334-3471 or info@schloemerlaw.com.

We frequently represent individuals and landowners in their estate planning, trust, and probate matters, focusing primarily on providing legal services in Washington, Ozaukee, Dodge, and Fond du Lac County and the communities of West Bend, Jackson, Slinger, Hartford, Kewaskum and other surrounding communities.

Originally published: March 30, 2026