Changing a Will

Are you considering updating or making a change to your Will? Talk to our Wills team

The need for updating a will often comes about due to a change in personal circumstances e.g. marriage, divorce or children. As such the approach taken when making a change to your will tends to be dictated by the the extent of the changes required.

There are 2 main ways of altering a will:

Writing a completely new will
Altering an existing will through the addition of a Codicil

Making a new Will

If you have a major change to your personal circumstances then you should make a new will.

All wills begin with the wording, "I revoke all previous wills and codicils.". This means that when writing your new will, all previous versions become redundant. As such, it is advisable to destroy the old will to avoid any confusion at a later date.

If you wish to write a new will, please visit our page about making a will.

Writing a Codicil to a Will

Changing a will can be done by making a codicil however they are only suitable for simple changes to an existing will.

What is a Codicil?

A Codicil is an additional piece of information that is attached to the original will. There are rules that apply to making a codicil to ensure it is valid so it is best advised to seek legal advice rather than attempting to approach these by yourself.

Review your Will Regularly

You should review your will regularly and at least every 3-5 years to ensure that it reflects your wishes in accordance with changing financial and personal circumstances.

In addition, we recommend a regular review with a solicitor to ensure that your will accords with current legislation.