If you wish to update or amend your Will, it may not be necessary to make a complete new Will. Changes can often be made by means of a Codicil.
Ordinarily, if you wished to change the appointment of Executors or you wished to increase or decrease legacies, a Codicil is a cheaper and simple way to make minor adjustments to a Will.
A Codicil is like an Appendix to a Will. A Codicil will cross reference to the Original Will and will only provide details of the amendments or additions that you wish to make to your Original Will.
The disadvantages of a Codicil is should it go missing and no one is aware of its existence, then it will not be taken into consideration when Administering the Estate. If there are a number of Codicils then it could be confusing or even impossible to confirm the Wishes of the Testator. In addition, consideration may not have been given to whether the Original Will is appropriate to your current circumstances. Your Will may no longer be appropriate. In this circumstance, it is advised that a New Will should be undertaken, which would consider all of your current circumstances and a New Will would be drafted in accordance with those instructions.
A Codicil must be executed in the same way as you executed your Will. It must be signed by you in the presence of two independent adult witnesses, who should also sign the Codicil adding their full name and full postal address.
The Original Signed Codicil should then be placed with the Original Last Will and Testament that you made in the first instance.
If Fisher Jones Greenwood can assist you in the Drafting of your Will or assist with any minor amendments to your Will, then please feel free to contact us on 01206 700113 or email [email protected] to arrange an appointment.
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