October is a good time to review your estate plan.
National Estate Planning Awareness Week (NEPAW) is October 1925, 2026, and it’s the perfect time to pause and make sure your plans still reflect your wishes, priorities, and the people and causes you care most about.
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy or those with significant assets. It’s for anyone who wants to make thoughtful decisions about their future and ensure that the people and causes that matter most to them are remembered in their plans.
Here are five things to review before the end of the year.
1. Review Your Will
When was the last time you looked at your will? Take a moment to review any recent changes in your life. Have you welcomed a new family member? Has someone in your family passed away? Have you moved or experienced another major life change? These changes may affect your estate plan. Review your will to make sure it still reflects your wishes and that the people you want to benefit are included.
2. Check Your Beneficiary Designations
Certain assets, including retirement accounts and life insurance policies, allow you to name a beneficiary, the person or organization who will receive a gift from you after your lifetime. Take a few minutes to review your beneficiary designations and make sure they are still accurate. It is important to remember that beneficiary designations can take precedence over other instructions in your will. Keeping these designations up to date can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
3. Review Your Retirement Accounts
For many people, retirement accounts are among their largest assets. Review who you have named to receive these accounts after your lifetime. You may also want to consider whether your beneficiary designations still reflect your current wishes and family circumstances. For some people, naming a charity as a beneficiary of all or part of a retirement account can be a meaningful way to support a cause they care about. Before making changes to your retirement accounts or beneficiary designations, consider speaking with your financial or legal advisor.
4. Check Your Life Insurance
Life insurance can help provide financial protection for the people you love. Review your policies and make sure the beneficiaries are still correct. Changes in your family or financial circumstances may mean it is time to update your designations. Some people also choose to name a charity as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. This can be one way to make a future charitable gift while continuing to provide for family members and other loved ones.
5. Think About Your Charitable Giving
Here is one more question to ask yourself: Which causes are important to me?
If there are charities or organizations that have made a difference in your life, you may want to consider including them in your estate plans. A gift in your will or another type of planned gift can help support an organization’s work for years to come. Even a modest gift can make a meaningful difference.
Could Catholic Charities of New York Be Part of Your Legacy?
At Catholic Charities of New York, we help individuals and families facing difficult times. The generosity of our supporters makes this work possible. If serving New York’s most vulnerable — people suffering from hunger, homelessness, physical or mental health illnesses; New Americans; or low-income families and youth — is a cause that matters to you, consider whether you would like to include us in your plans for the future.
A planned gift does not have to be large. A gift of any size can be a meaningful way to continue your support and create a lasting legacy.
A Legacy That Continues
National Estate Planning Awareness Week reminds us that planning for the future is about deciding the difference we want to make. At Catholic Charities of New York, we see the impact of generosity every day. A planned gift can help ensure that our mission of serving people in need continues for years to come.
As you review your estate plan this October, ask yourself: What do I want my legacy to say about the people and causes I care about?
If Catholic Charities of New York is part of that vision, we invite you to learn more about planned giving. Our Planned Giving team is available to answer questions and help you explore your options. Please contact our Planned Giving team, at 646-794-2411.
Your legacy can be more than what you leave behind. It can be the possibilities you open up for others.
Making plans? Feel free to explore FreeWill and MyCatholicWill, two free estate planning tools and trusted partners of Catholic Charities of New York.
Please consult with your attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional before making changes to your estate plan.
