With the new year just around the corner, many of us turn our attention to healthy lifestyle resolutions and new fitness goals. But it’s also the perfect time to review and update our legal affairs too.
With the new year just around the corner, many of us turn our attention to healthy lifestyle resolutions and new fitness goals. But it’s also the perfect time to review and update our legal affairs, too.
Our Private Client team at Cunningtons is encouraging local people to kick off 2026 with a legal health check. Taking stock of your legal documentation can provide peace of mind for you and your family, ensuring your plans align with your current circumstances and any recent life changes.
Why a Legal Health Check Matters
Life changes all the time, and your legal documentation should keep pace. The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to review key legal documents to ensure that they accurately reflect your current wishes.
Being proactive helps your family understand your intentions, while safeguarding both you and your loved ones. Research from The Association of Lifetime Lawyers shows that over half of UK adults over 30 don’t have a Will, or if they do, they have one that needs updating. Nearly one in ten UK adults has started making a Will but hasn’t completed it, leaving their estate and loved ones at risk.
When to Review Your Will
It’s best practice to review and update your Will every five years or when a major change in your life occurs, such as:
- Marriage or civil partnership;
- Divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership;
- The arrival of a child;
- The loss of a loved one; or
- Changes related to gender recognition.
An up-to-date Will not only ensures that your wishes are honoured, but also sets out clear guardianship arrangements for your children. Worryingly, many parents haven’t made arrangements for who would care for their children if something unexpected happened to them. Without a Will, guardianship decisions may be left to the courts, which might not align with your preferences.
Lasting Powers of Attorney: Don’t Wait
Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is another crucial step that every adult should take before it’s too late; and as we never know when that time is, the sooner the better. An LPA ensures that someone you trust can manage your financial and healthcare decisions if you become unable to do so yourself.
Your options are to set up:
- A Property and Financial Affairs LPA for handling your finances, and
- A Health and Welfare LPA for decisions regarding your care and living arrangements.
Prepare for the Unexpected
You should also create a secure emergency document with essential contacts and key details for accessing important accounts, such as online banking, and update it annually.
And documenting your funeral wishes can also reduce the emotional burden on your loved ones during a difficult time.
Get Expert Guidance
Talking to an experienced legal professional ensures that all documents are thorough, valid, and reflect your intentions accurately. Our team at Cunningtons is here to help you start 2026 with confidence and clarity.
Ready to Begin Your Legal Health Check?
Contact our Private Client team on 01376 326868 to arrange a consultation at any of our Braintree, Brighton, Chelmsford, Croydon, Hastings, Hornchurch, or Wickford offices.
Let’s work together to ensure your legal affairs are in order for the year ahead.