Estate planning isn’t just for retirees

The Estate Planning By Age Information Hub

Estate planning isn’t just for retirees. Your needs change as you move through life, and your plan should keep up. Whether you’re 18 or 81, there are smart steps you can take now to protect your future and ease the burden on your loved ones later.

Below is a high-level guide to what matters most at each age. Click into each section to find detailed checklists, tools, and resources.

Estate Planning By Age

Table of Contents

Key Things To Know

A few core truths about estate planning can save you time, money, and stress... no matter how old you are.

  • Estate planning isn’t just about death: It’s about making decisions now that protect your health, your money, and your people while you're still alive.
  • You need a plan as soon as you’re 18: Once you turn 18, your parents no longer have automatic legal authority to make medical or financial decisions for you.
  • Your plan should grow with you: Big life changes like getting married, buying a house, or having a child are all signals to update your documents.
  • Wills are not enough: You also need powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and plans for your digital life, especially if you're single or own a business.
  • Beneficiaries trump your will: Your will can say one thing, but if your life insurance or 401(k) has an old beneficiary listed, that’s what the law follows.
  • Trusts aren’t just for the wealthy: A trust can keep your family out of probate court, protect young kids, and ensure more privacy.
  • Estate planning is emotional: You’re not just organizing paperwork, you’re passing on stories, values, and wishes that can ease your family’s burden.
  • A good plan is easy to update: Keep your documents accessible and revisit them every few years or after major life changes.

Age 13-17: Start The Conversation

You’re not legally in charge of your life yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start learning.

Getting used to tracking your school forms, IDs, and logins now builds habits that will make adult life way less overwhelming.

  • Visit the Intro to Estate Organization Hub

Understanding how money works is the first step toward future independence. You’ll thank yourself later for learning to budget, build credit, and spot financial scams.

Keeping a simple record of what you do, what you care about, and what you’ve accomplished makes it easier to tell your story later—whether applying to school, work, or writing a eulogy 80 years from now

Even as a teen, your stories matter. Practice asking your family questions, recording funny memories, or sharing lessons learned.

Age 18: Legal Adulthood

You're legally an adult now. This means no one else can automatically make medical, legal, or financial decisions for you. Even if you don’t have a lot of money or stuff, you still need a basic plan in place.

You probably don’t own a house or have a will-worthy fortune, but a simple will can still protect your stuff and designate who’s in charge if something happens to you.

If you get in an accident or land in the hospital, no one—not even your parents—can speak for you without this in place. Choose someone you trust.

This document gives someone you trust the legal power to handle your finances if you're unavailable or unable. Super useful for students studying abroad, traveling, or in the hospital.

Get in the habit of storing important info in one place, digitally or physically. This includes logins, insurance cards, medical info, and a copy of your IDs.

Age 21: Full Independence

You have full legal and financial rights. Now’s the time to make sure your planning reflects that level of responsibility and protection.

Your relationships, values, or living situation may have changed since age 18. Make sure your documents still reflect your current wishes.

Build strong financial habits now to protect your future. Learn how to manage credit cards, avoid unnecessary debt, and establish a solid financial foundation.

If you're living independently, make sure your personal property is covered. Understand what renter’s insurance protects and why it matters.

  • Visit the Bank & Financial Accounts Information Hub
  • Use planning tools in the CLEAR Kits

It’s a personal choice, but an important one. Decide what’s right for you and make sure your preferences are documented.

Age 25-30: Building Foundations

You’re earning, living more independently, and possibly thinking about long-term goals. This is the time to put key protections in place and begin organizing your estate essentials.

Your retirement accounts, life insurance, and even bank accounts likely have beneficiary designations. These take legal priority over your will so they need to be current.

If you haven’t created a will or power of attorney, now’s the time. If you already have them, check that your documents reflect your current life, relationships, and location.

You likely manage dozens of online accounts. If something happened to you, would anyone know how to access them?

Even if you’re young and healthy, life insurance is cheaper now than it will be later. Disability insurance can help protect your income if you become unable to work.

You don’t need a binder full of paper yet, but you do need a place to track your key documents, emergency contacts, and accounts.

Age 30-45: Family, Career, and Assets

You’re likely balancing a career, relationships, kids, or homeownership. This is the time to protect what you’ve built and plan for the people who rely on you.

If you have children or people who depend on you, it’s critical to name guardians and ensure your wishes are legally documented.

  • Visit the Will Information Hub
  • Learn about planning tools in the Trusts Information Hub
  • Explore the Special Needs Dependents Information Hub

This is where you express your wishes, values, and guidance for how children should be raised if you’re no longer here.

  • Explore the Ethical Will & Legacy Messaging Information Hub
  • Use the CLEAR Kits to store care instructions and guardian documents

Whether it’s real estate, retirement accounts, or business interests, keep a clear inventory so your loved ones don’t have to go searching later.

  • Start with the Intro To Estate Organization Information Hub
  • Visit the Investments, Retirement Accounts, & Benefits Hub
  • Explore the Business Interests Information Hub

Make sure your life, home, and health insurance reflect your current household. If you have children, you may need more coverage than you did five years ago.

  • Explore the Life Insurance Information Hub
  • Visit the Funeral Insurance Information Hub

Sometimes forgotten bank accounts, insurance payouts, or refunds are waiting for you. It only takes a few minutes to check and claim what is yours.

What do you want to pass down beyond money? Now’s a good time to start documenting your values, family traditions, and stories.

Age 45-60: Peak Earning, Peak Complexity

You’re likely managing more assets, deeper family responsibilities, and thinking ahead toward retirement. This is the time to tighten your plan, clarify your wishes, and prepare others to support your future needs.

Life changes fast. Update your documents to reflect current relationships, assets, and preferences. Even small details, like who you’ve named as executor or power of attorney, may need adjusting.

A trust can protect privacy, avoid probate, and make inheritance easier for your family. They’re especially helpful if you have a blended family, own property in multiple states, or care for someone with special needs.

Make sure your health care proxy, advance directives, and medical wishes reflect your current preferences. These documents can ease difficult decisions for your loved ones.

The amount you receive depends on when you claim, your earnings history, and whether you're married, divorced, or widowed. Understanding your options can lead to a higher lifetime benefit.

  • Visit the Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits Information Hub

Start identifying meaningful belongings and writing down who you’d like to receive them. This helps avoid confusion or conflict later.

Let people know where things are, what you want, and how to help. These talks don’t have to be heavy—they’re a gift.

Age 60-65: Pre-Retirement Tune Up

Retirement is on the horizon. Now is the time to finalize your plan, reduce complexity, and ensure your family can step in smoothly if needed.

Understand when and how to begin collecting benefits. Review retirement account distributions, pension details, and any employer benefits.

Medicare eligibility begins at 65, but decisions should be made earlier. Understand what’s covered, what’s not, and how to fill in the gaps.

This includes your will, trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Confirm everything is signed, witnessed, and stored in an accessible place.

Write down or talk through your preferences for burial, cremation, or other final arrangements. This can spare your loved ones from guessing under stress.

Designate and prepare the people who will manage your affairs. Share your location of documents, passwords, and wishes.

Age 65+: Communicate and Simplify

The goal now is peace of mind. Focus on making your documents easy to find, your wishes clearly stated, and your legacy ready to share.

Even the best documents won’t help if no one knows they exist. Walk through your plan with the people you’ve named.

  • Visit the Key Contacts Log Information Hub
  • Use the Executor’s Summary Report to guide a conversation
  • Explore the CLEAR Kits to organize everything in one place

Fewer accounts means less confusion for your future executor or caregivers. Now’s a good time to clean up your financial footprint.

  • Visit the Bank & Financial Accounts Hub
  • Explore the Closing Credit Cards and Bank Accounts Hub

Doctors, hospitals, and caregivers should have access to your healthcare proxy and advance directive forms.

  • Visit the Healthcare Proxy Information Hub
  • Review your preferences in the Advance Directives Information Hub

If your wishes aren’t documented, your family will have to guess. Make choices now so they can feel confident later.

  • Explore your options in the Funeral Planning Information Hub
  • Document your decisions in the Final Resting Place Instructions Hub

This is the heart of legacy. You’ve lived a lot of life. Share what matters to you so your loved ones can carry it forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not sure what you need or when to do it? These common questions can help you understand why estate planning matters at every age—and what actions make sense right now.

Yes. If you're legally an adult, no one—not even your parents—can make financial or medical decisions for you without formal documents. A simple will and health care proxy can go a long way.

Even if you don’t have a house or major savings, you still have personal belongings, digital accounts, and opinions about your care. Estate planning isn't just about wealth—it's about control and clarity.

Not always. In some states, your spouse may have to share with other relatives or go through probate. Plus, your spouse can’t automatically make health or legal decisions for you unless you name them.

Old documents can cause big problems. An ex might still be listed as your beneficiary. A deceased or estranged person might still be your decision-maker. Update your plan after any major life event.

Maybe. Trusts aren’t just for wealth—they can help avoid probate, manage assets for minor children, or plan for special needs. We explain when it makes sense at each stage.

A will takes effect after you die. Powers of attorney help people act on your behalf while you’re still alive—whether you're traveling, ill, or incapacitated.

As soon as you're an adult. It’s not about age—it’s about readiness. Advance directives protect your wishes, and they’re just as important at 25 as they are at 75.

You still need a plan. Someone will have to manage your estate, medical care, and digital accounts. Naming trusted friends or family now can prevent stress and confusion later.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this website and by Buried in Work is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult with a qualified attorney or subject matter expert for advice specific to your situation.