What happens if my personal representative or power of attorney agent has a name change?

Creating an estate plan—like naming an agent under your power of attorney or choosing a personal representative in your will—is a great way to make sure your affairs are handled the way you want. But what happens if the person you’ve named changes their name after your documents are signed?

Maybe they got married, divorced, or legally changed their name for another reason. It’s a common question—and the good news is, you usually don’t need to worry. But there are a few things you should know.

Your Documents Are Still Valid

If your agent or personal representative has a legal name change, your documents are still valid as long as they can prove that the person named is the same individual. For example:

  • If your will names “Sarah Johnson” as your personal representative, and she later becomes “Sarah Thompson” after marriage, she can still serve in that role.
  • If your power of attorney lists “Michael Lee” as your agent, and he legally changes his name to “Michael Cruz,” he still has the authority you gave him.

As long as it’s clear that the person you originally named is the same person with a new name, the court or financial institution will generally accept it—though they may ask for documentation to confirm the name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other court-ordered name change document).

Keep Other Details Updated As Well

A name change is just one reason you might need to revisit your estate plan. You should also check and update your documents if there is:

  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Someone named has passed away
  • You’ve changed your mind about who you want to name
  • Your relationship with that person changes (due to divorce, estrangement, etc.)

At DAL Law Firm, we recommend reviewing your plan every five-ten years, after significant financial growth, or after any major life change (such as marriage, divorce, birth, or death of anyone named in your estate plan, just to be safe.

Final Thoughts

If your personal representative or agent has changed their name, your estate plan is still legally valid. There is no need to re-write your entire estate plan due to a simple name change of someone named.

If you would like to consult with our office regarding estate planning services, we would be happy to assist you! Our telephone number is (206) 408-8158.

You can also learn more about our services by visiting our website:

https://www.dallawfirm.com

Or visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@dallawfirm.

Contact us:

19803 1st Avenue S.
Suite 200
Normandy Park, WA 98148

T (206) 408-8158
F (206) 374-2810

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