One of the things you should do when making your estate plan is to name an executor (also known as a personal representative). They will act to oversee the distribution of your assets according to the instructions you leave and any relevant state laws.
At some point, you may need to update your estate plan to replace the executor you originally named with someone else. When might you need to do this?
If the executor can no longer perform the job
If your chosen executor dies, then they obviously cannot act as your executor when you die. But the same could happen if they suffer a serious injury or illness that affects their ability to take on this responsibility. Dementia would be one such example.
If the person is sentenced to time in prison, they also won’t be able to fulfil the role, at least not until they are released. If the charge they are convicted of is a felony, that will rule them out altogether.
If they no longer want the job
Let’s say you have your brother-in-law down as your executor. Then your sister divorces him. Even if you are happy to keep him as executor, he might prefer not to get involved in your family’s affairs.
People might also change their mind about a role they once said yes to if they move out of state, and performing the job would be more difficult for them.
You don’t need a reason to replace your executor. You can do it whenever you wish, up to the point you die. As you cannot predict when your last day will be, it’s wise to review your choice regularly to see if it’s time to update it in your estate plan.