As the days grow longer and schedules begin to shift, you might find yourself with a little extra breathing room. Maybe it’s a slower season at work, or the kids are out of school.
Either way, summer can offer something that’s often in short supply during the rest of the year: a chance to think ahead. When life eases its grip a bit, you can finally tackle the things that keep getting pushed to the bottom of the list. A resolve to plan your estate often falls into that category.
Instead of letting another season pass you by, consider using this time to focus on protecting your legacy and providing clarity for your loved ones.
Why Summer Can Be the Right Time to Start
It’s common to associate estate planning with major life changes. Marriage, divorce, having children, retirement—all of these can push the topic to the forefront. But if you wait for a perfect moment, you might never get around to it.
The truth is, any season is a good time to plan. Summer simply offers fewer obstacles. You may have time off, more flexibility in your schedule, or just a clearer headspace to make important decisions.
More importantly, estate planning isn’t just about you. It’s about giving your loved ones the tools they need to act on your behalf when the time comes. That requires forethought, documentation, and legal guidance. Starting while you’re calm and clear-minded is a practical choice.
Wills and Trusts Are Just the Beginning
You probably know that a will allows you to spell out who inherits your assets. You may also be aware that a trust can help bypass probate or provide structure for how your property is managed and distributed. But these documents are only part of the broader process.
For example, a durable power of attorney allows someone you trust to handle financial matters if you become incapacitated. A health care proxy appoints someone to make medical decisions when you’re unable to speak for yourself.
Without these tools in place, your loved ones could be left without legal authority to act when it matters most.
Even if you already have these documents, summer is a great time to review them. Are your agents still the right people for the job? Have your assets changed? Is your trust still aligned with your wishes? Circumstances evolve, and your plan should reflect those changes.
Use the Season to Start the Conversation
Many people avoid estate planning discussions because they’re emotionally charged. Bringing up death or incapacity with family members doesn’t make for light conversation. But the slower pace of summer might make the topic easier to approach.
Whether you’re talking to aging parents, adult children, or your spouse, estate planning benefits from transparency. Letting loved ones know your intentions can prevent confusion and reduce the risk of conflict later.
If you’re a parent, this includes discussing guardianship plans for minor children and sharing where documents are stored.
Don’t feel pressure to have every detail figured out before opening the conversation. You can start small. For example, ask your parents if they have a plan in place or share that you’re working on yours. The important thing is to get the dialogue going.
Digital Assets and Beneficiary Reviews Deserve Your Attention
As your life evolves, so does your footprint, both financial and digital. You probably have online accounts, photos stored in the cloud, and social media profiles that mean something to you or your family. If these aren’t addressed in your estate plan, they may become inaccessible after you’re gone.
We practice in New York, and our state has adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA). This allows you to give trusted individuals permission to access your digital property.
Without those instructions, even licensed professionals may face roadblocks in retrieving your digital data.
Summer is also a good time to check your account designations. Life insurance, retirement plans, and payable-on-death accounts all transfer outside of a will or trust. If your beneficiaries are outdated, or if they don’t align with your estate plan, your wishes may not be carried out as expected.
Estate Tax Planning Is Worth a Look
You may assume estate taxes are only a concern for the ultra-wealthy, but thresholds shift over time. For 2025, the federal estate tax exemption is $13.99 million per person. While that’s high, the exemption is set to drop to roughly $6 million per person in 2026 unless Congress intervenes.
Even if your estate falls below that number today, the pending sunset could bring you closer to the threshold than you expect. Plus, we have a state-level estate tax in New York with a $7.16 million exclusion this year.
If you’re considering lifetime gifts or creating a trust to reduce exposure, now is the time to speak with a licensed estate planning attorney.
Set Goals and Make Progress
You don’t need to complete every piece of your plan in a single week. A smart approach is to break the process into steps.
One week, you might gather your financial information. The next, you could make a list of potential agents and guardians. After that, reach out to a law firm to schedule a consultation.
Estate planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right support and a clear timeline, you can use the summer months to make meaningful progress.
Summer Resolutions That Last
People often talk about making resolutions in January, but summer has its own rhythm. There’s room to reflect, space to plan, and maybe even motivation to make some overdue changes.
If you’ve been meaning to get your affairs in order, take the opportunity. A well-structured estate plan offers peace of mind and helps protect what matters most.
View Our On-Demand Webinar!
We have recorded an informative webinar that you can view to gain a more thorough understanding of this important process. It’s free, and you can gain access here: Manhattan, NY estate planning webinar.
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