There are many reasons why you may need to change your will throughout your life, from the birth of children or grandchildren to divorce. However, many people do not know the correct way to change their will, and this can cause problems and disputes in the future.
Revoking the Old Will
To revoke the old will you have previously written, you must create a clause in the new will that makes it clear that you revoke the old will and its implications. You should also destroy any old wills that you have made to ensure that there is no confusion or challenges to your currently standing will when you die. In some circumstances, giving away property or land before you pass away is enough to revoke an old will, but you should speak to a solicitor before taking this action.
Adding a Codicil
A codicil allows you to make changes to your existing will without the need to create a new one. Codicils work in the same way as a will and will need to be witnessed and signed in the same manner. Although they are excellent options for small changes to your will, adding a codicil can potentially make your work confusing, and so you should create a new will if you are opting for large changes. You should also keep codicils with your old will to limit confusion or loss.
Writing a New Will
Writing a new will is the best option if you are changing a significant portion of your will. You should have this new will witnessed and signed and tell your executor where your will is kept, for ease of access after you die. You should ensure that your new will does not challenge any other corresponding documents that you would still like to uphold, such as wills relating to ownership in other countries. You should make sure this new will clearly states your intention that old wills should be revoked. After this is witnessed and signed, it cannot be changed unless you choose to add a codicil.
Employing a Solicitor
By following this advice, you should ensure that there is little risk of disputes or challenges to this will. If there is are challenges towards yours or someone else’s wills, then you or your family should employ a solicitor or law firm to manage your will disputes. This will ensure that the best possible outcome is reached in a short amount of time and that problems in the future do not arise. If you are unsure about disputes centered around any aspect of your will, you should employ a solicitor to discuss your options and the transparency of your will.
Life can bring about many changes that may cause you to want to create a new will or update an existing one. With this guide in hand, you should be able to make changing your will an extremely simple and stress-less process, leaving you to challenge and dispute free.
As a part of a new series #adulting101, we here at Broke & Chic will be posting monthly articles on topics that people tend to not want to talk about as well as articles on things you don’t know you need to know. Adulting is hard! But we’re here to try and make it a bit easier.
xoxo,
Amanda
