Changing a will
Contents
This information applies only to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Changing your will
Once a will has been written, you may wish to change it for one of the following reasons:
- To update it
- To cancel it
Updating a will
You should consider updating your will in the following circumstances:
- If your marital status changes
- If you sell anything that is left as a specific gift in your will
- If you buy something and want to leave it as a specific gift in your will
- If you adopt or have any more children
- If you move to live outside the UK (you are likely to need a totally new will in your new country of residence)
- If the person you appointed as the guardian for your children needs to be changed
- If your executors need to be changed
- If you change your mind about the instructions contained in your will
For more information about updating your will see: When to update your will.
Cancelling a will
You may cancel a will in three ways:
- Making a subsequent will containing a revocation clause or which contradicts the first will
- By getting married or entering into a civil partnership, unless that will was made in contemplation of that marriage/civil partnership and you stated that the will was to continue to be valid after that marriage/civil partnership
- Physically destroying the will
If it is the person's intention to cancel their existing will, it is best to make the position absolutely clear in the new will or codicil. A codicil is a document which alters the terms of an existing will.
For more information on cancelling a will see: Cancelling a will.
Related services
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Codicil appointing a guardianCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil appointing a substitute guardianCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil appointing additional executorCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil appointing substitute executorCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil appointing substitute executor on death of executorCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil making a gift to a new beneficiaryCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil making an additional gift to an existing beneficiaryCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil replacing a guardianCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil replacing a substitute guardianCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil revoking a gift to a named beneficiaryCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil revoking gift to one and giving to anotherCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Codicil revoking or changing choice of executorCompatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Comprehensive Will for a married person or civil partnerCompatible region(s): Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Comprehensive Will for a married person or civil partner (pair)Compatible region(s): Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Comprehensive Will for an unmarried personCompatible region(s): Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Comprehensive Will for an unmarried person (pair)Compatible region(s): Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Discretionary Trust Will for a married person or civil partner (pair)Compatible region(s): Northern Ireland England WalesFree
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Mirror Wills for married couples or civil partnersCompatible region(s): Northern Ireland England WalesFree