Spring Cleaning Isn’t Just for Closets It’s Time to Refresh Your Legal Documents

🌸 Spring Cleaning Isn't Just for Closets: It's Time to Refresh Your Legal Documents

EVN Law | Utah Estate Planning Attorneys

🧹 Time for a Legal Spring Clean

Spring is in the air—flowers blooming, windows opening, and checklists growing. Most of us use this time to declutter our homes, clean out garages, or purge closets. But there's one area people often overlook during their spring refresh: your legal documents.

Life changes quickly—marriage, divorce, new babies, aging parents, even kids leaving for missions or college. That's why reviewing and updating your legal paperwork is just as important as changing your air filters or organizing the pantry.

Stay organized—and protected—with regularly updated legal documents

📁 What Legal Documents Should I Review?

If you live in Utah, here are the key personal documents you should check at least once a year:

📝 Estate Planning Documents

• Will
  Make sure it still reflects your wishes, your chosen executor, and your heirs.

• Trusts
  Has your financial situation changed? Do your listed trustees and beneficiaries still make sense?

• Durable Power of Attorney
  Designate someone you trust to manage your finances if you're ever unable to do so.

• Medical Power of Attorney / Advance Healthcare Directive
  Who will make medical decisions for you if you can't, especially if your health status has changed? Are your end-of-life preferences still accurate?

🏡 Property & Family

• Deeds, Titles, and Mortgages
  Ensure the name(s) on your home or property title reflect your current wishes, especially if you're newly married or recently divorced.

• Homestead Declaration (for Utah homeowners)
  Consider whether you should file or update one to help protect your primary residence from creditors.

• Guardianship Provisions
  If you have young children, does your will name the correct guardians?

📚 Documents for College Students or Missionaries

• Power of Attorney for Young Adults
  Once your child turns 18, you can no longer automatically make decisions for them. A simple power of attorney and medical directive can give you the legal authority to help in emergencies.

👩‍💼 Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

• Operating Agreements / Bylaws
  Have your business partners changed? Has your business structure evolved?

• Side Hustle or Extra Income   
  Are you thinking of starting a business and need help setting it up properly?

Once they turn 18, they need their own legal documents—especially before leaving for college or a mission

♻️ What to Keep, Update, or Shred?

Here's your quick legal spring-cleaning checklist:

✅ Keep

• Current estate plan (with original signatures)
• Property deeds and car titles
• Power of attorney and healthcare directive
• Legal business documents
• Marriage licenses, divorce decrees, birth certificates
• Guardianship paperwork

🔄 Update

• Any document with outdated names, addresses, or beneficiaries
• Wills or trusts that don't reflect your current family structure
• Powers of attorney that are more than 3–5 years old
• Healthcare directives that don't reflect your current medical wishes

🗑️ Shred

• Old versions of wills or trusts that have been replaced (keep only the most recent one with signatures)
• Outdated medical forms or expired documents
• Legal papers that no longer apply to your life (e.g. former business agreements or leases)

🛑 Important: Always shred documents with sensitive information to protect your privacy.

📍 Why It Matters (Especially in Utah)

In Utah, where family, faith, and preparedness are often top priorities, having clean, current legal documents is one of the best gifts you can give your loved ones.

Outdated or missing paperwork can lead to costly probate, court delays, or unnecessary stress for your family during an already difficult time. Don't leave your loved ones guessing—make sure your paperwork speaks clearly for you.

Fresh season, fresh start—Utahns, take time to get your documents in order

🌼 A Clean Slate and Peace of Mind

Just like spring cleaning your garage or junk drawer, updating your legal documents brings peace of mind and prepares you for whatever lies ahead. Whether you need help organizing, reviewing, or creating documents, EVN Law is here to make it simple, affordable, and stress-free.

📅 Ready for a Legal Spring Clean?

✅ Request a Simple Estate Planning Questionnaire to help get started
✅ Get help updating your will or power of attorney
✅ Prepare essential documents for your college student or missionary

📍 Based in Davis County | 📞 (801) 852-2333 | 🌐 evnlaw.com