This blog has been written by Latoya Brown, Associate at Fasken LLP

Valentine’s Day is often associated with flowers, cards, and grand gestures. But beyond the chocolates and celebrations, February also offers a quieter reminder of what truly matters: the people we care about. It’s an opportunity to pause and reflect on how we show care, not just through gestures or words, but through thoughtful planning and intention for the future.

When it comes to estate planning, making a plan is one of the most meaningful ways to provide for loved ones. It allows your intentions to be clearly documented and ultimately carried out, ensuring that the people you care about are looked after in the way you envision.

A thoughtfully prepared estate plan does more than distribute assets, it creates space for your personal values and priorities to guide decision‑making. Alongside legally binding documents such as wills and powers of attorney, individuals often include letters of wishes as part of their planning. While not legally binding, these letters can provide helpful context and guidance to those responsible for carrying out the plan. By documenting not only what should happen, but why certain decisions were made, a plan can offer meaningful direction at a time when clarity is especially important and emotions may be running high.

One of the most common misconceptions about estate planning is that not making a plan simply leaves things “as they are.” In reality, choosing not to make a plan does not mean that no decisions will be made. When no plan is in place, decisions are still made, just not by you.

Without a will or substitute in place, an estate may fall to be distributed under intestacy rules, which may not reflect personal wishes or family dynamics. While these rules provide a means to distribute your estate, they cannot account for individual relationships or intentions. Making a plan allows individuals to retain control over how their estate is handled, rather than leaving those decisions to default rules.

With that said, plans can change, as life inevitably does. Making an estate plan does not mean locking decisions in forever. Life evolves, relationships grow, and circumstances change. A plan can and should, be reviewed and updated to reflect those changes. Estate plans should be reviewed periodically, and in particular following significant life events such as changes in marital status, the birth or adoption of a child, changes in family relationships, or material changes in financial circumstances, to ensure that the plan continues to reflect the individual’s wishes and remains effective.

Valentine’s Day reminds us that love is often shown through thoughtfulness. Estate planning may not be the most obvious expression of love, but it is one of the most lasting.

Have a great Valentine’s weekend!