How to Amend a Will in the UK: Codicils, Rewriting and When to Start Again

How to Amend a Will in the UK: Codicils, Rewriting and When to Start Again

If you need to change a will in the UK, the formal way to do it is usually by making a codicil or by writing a new will. Small changes can sometimes be handled with a codicil, but bigger changes are often safer if you start again.

What you should not do is scribble on the original will, staple new pages to it, or assume a verbal promise will be enough. That is how families end up with confusion, delay and legal arguments.

Can you change a will after it has been signed?

Yes, but not informally.

Once a will has been signed and witnessed, you cannot properly amend it by just crossing out lines or handwriting changes in the margin. GOV.UK is clear that the official way to change a will is by making a codicil. For major changes, a new will is usually the better option.

What is a codicil?

A codicil is a separate legal document that changes an existing will.

It might be used to:

• replace an executor
• update an address or name
• change a gift
• add or remove a beneficiary
• make another limited amendment without redrafting the entire will

A codicil has to be signed and witnessed with the same level of formality as a will.

When a codicil makes sense

A codicil can work well when the change is small and the existing will is otherwise still right.

Examples include:

• the executor has died or can no longer act
• a beneficiary has changed their name
• you want to swap one specific gift for another
• you want to add a straightforward cash legacy

In short: if the structure of the will still works and only one or two details need updating, a codicil may be enough.

When you should probably write a new will instead

This is where people save the wrong thing.

A codicil may be cheaper in the moment, but if several things have changed, it can make the estate harder to understand later.

A new will is usually better if:

• you have married since making the will
• you have separated or divorced
• you have had children or grandchildren and want to change the structure
• you now own different property or significant new assets
• you want to change multiple gifts
• you want to create or remove trusts
• you already have one or more codicils attached

The goal is clarity. If someone sorting your estate after your death has to piece together one will and three codicils, the paperwork has already become more expensive than it needed to be.

Important life events that should trigger a review

GOV.UK recommends reviewing your will every five years and after major life changes.

In practice, review it sooner if any of these happen:

• marriage or civil partnership
• separation or divorce
• buying or selling a home
• birth of a child
• death of an executor or beneficiary
• major changes in wealth
• starting a new relationship
• a serious change in family circumstances

One crucial point: in England and Wales, marriage generally revokes an earlier will unless the will was made in contemplation of that marriage. That is not something to guess about. If marriage is involved, check the wording with a solicitor.

Can you just mark up the original will?

Do not rely on that.

Physical changes to the original will can create doubt about:

• when the change was made
• whether it was signed properly
• whether someone interfered with the document
• whether the person had capacity when the change was made

That uncertainty causes real problems during probate.

If the change matters enough to write down, it matters enough to document properly.

How a codicil is signed

A codicil needs the same discipline as a will.

That means it should be:

• in writing
• clearly linked to the existing will
• signed by the person making it
• witnessed correctly

The witnesses should not be people who benefit from the change. If the formalities are wrong, the codicil may fail.

What if the person has died and the family wants to change the will?

That is a different issue.

You cannot make a codicil after death. But beneficiaries can sometimes agree to vary how an estate is distributed after someone has died, often using a deed of variation.

That is not the same as changing the original will itself. It is a separate process with separate rules.

If you are dealing with this situation, treat it as estate administration, not will drafting.

What to do if you find an old will and a codicil after a death

If someone has died and you are trying to work out what is valid, do not assume the newest-looking paper wins.

Check for:

• the latest original signed will
• any codicils attached or stored separately
• whether the codicil clearly identifies the will it amends
• whether both documents appear properly executed
• whether a later will revoked everything earlier

When applying for probate, the most recent original will and any codicils usually need to be submitted together.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Using a codicil for major restructuring

If the family, assets and wishes have all changed, a codicil is often false economy.

2. Forgetting to review the whole will

People sometimes update one gift but forget the rest of the document now makes no sense.

3. Naming people who can no longer act

If an executor has died, lost capacity or moved abroad, update that now.

4. Storing the codicil badly

A codicil is useless if nobody can find it.

5. DIY wording that creates ambiguity

A will is not the place for vague language. “I want things divided fairly” is not a plan.

Should you use a solicitor?

For a small change, some people use templates. But there is a reason solicitors keep seeing estates damaged by cheap drafting.

A solicitor is especially worth using if:

• property is involved
• there are stepchildren or blended families
• a trust may be needed
• inheritance tax is a concern
• anyone might challenge the will
• the person making the change is elderly or unwell

The cost of getting it wrong is usually paid later by the family.

A practical checklist before you change a will

Before choosing codicil or rewrite, gather:

• the latest original will
• names and addresses of executors
• the exact change you want to make
• details of property and major assets
• updated beneficiary information
• any earlier codicils

Then ask one hard question: is this really a small change?

If the honest answer is no, rewrite the will.

If you are handling this after a bereavement

Will paperwork often surfaces at the same time as everything else: banks, utilities, probate forms and family questions. It is a lot to carry when you are already grieving.

If you are the person trying to keep it all straight, use a system that lets you track documents, tasks and key dates in one place. That is one of the quiet ways GetPassage can help: less mental load, fewer dropped threads.

The bottom line

You can change a will in the UK, but you need to do it properly. A codicil is useful for limited amendments. A new will is usually better for bigger changes or repeated updates.

The rule is simple: if the change is small, amend carefully. If the change is big, start clean.

Clarity now saves conflict later.