Fall brings cooler mornings, shorter days and a reminder that things change. Your estate plan should keep up, even if your favorite sweater has been doing the same job since 2009.

Start with the people named in your documents. Are your successor trustee, financial agent and health care agent still appropriate choices? Have there been marriages, divorces, births, deaths or changes in family relationships since you last reviewed the plan?

Then look at your assets. A California living trust needs to be coordinated with the property it is meant to manage. A new home, a refinanced property or a recently opened account deserves a closer look. Signing a trust does not automatically update every deed or account.

Beneficiary designations also need attention. Retirement accounts and life insurance often pass under their own beneficiary arrangements, so those choices should work with the rest of your plan.

Finally, make sure the people who may need to act know where your signed documents are kept. An excellent plan is less useful if finding it becomes a family scavenger hunt.

This fall, set aside time for a focused review. Sequoia Estate Planning can help you identify what still works and what needs updating.