Most people's New Year's resolutions revolve around losing weight or taking up a hobby. However, people often ignore an important aspect of their lives: estate planning.

While estate planning may seem a little daunting to those unfamiliar with it, there are people there to help. Forbes has an interesting article on ways to fulfill that New Year's resolution of getting estate planning materials up-to-date. Here are a few of their tips.

• Review beneficiary forms. It's a good idea to name primary and alternate beneficiaries on retirement accounts. Generally, with an IRA, people can name whomever they want. A 401(k) is a little more complicated since it requires a spouse's written permission to make someone else a beneficiary.

• Determine whether trusts are necessary. Many people just assume trusts are only for the extremely wealthy, but they can be useful in a number of situations.

• Anticipate a time when others will be making decisions. Forbes calls a diminished mental state a harsh reality of living longer. People need to keep in mind that appointing someone to make key decisions on your behalf can be a crucial part of estate planning.

• Choose a guardian for children. It's understandable that people don't even want to imagine a scenario in which their children lose their parents. Choosing a potential guardian can prevent a court battle or custody dispute if no one is appointed prior to a parent's death.

• Keep your estate planning documents up-to-date. This may sound simple, but it's important to make sure loved ones get the amount of money you intend, particularly with inflation.

While estate planning can be complicated, a qualified estate planning attorney can assist you in the process and help put your mind at ease.

Source: Forbes, "Make a New Year's resolution to give your estate plan a checkup," Deborah L. Jacobs, Jan. 4, 2012