Can you make amendments to your Will once it has been signed? Yes. You can change your Will at any time, as long as you have the mental capacity to do so. However, amendments to your Will must be made in the right way, or they may not count. This guide explains the options in England and Wales and which is safest.
Can I change my Will?
You can change your Will whenever you wish, provided you understand what you are doing. A Will only takes effect on death, so until then it can be updated or replaced. The important point is that any change must meet the same legal formalities as the original Will. You cannot simply write on it, or tell your family about the change.
Three ways to make amendments to your Will
There are three main ways to change a Will:
- altering the original document
- making a codicil
- making a new Will
Altering the original Will
Writing on a Will, crossing words out or adding new wording is risky. Alterations made before the Will is signed can be valid, but it is good practice for you and both witnesses to initial each one so it is clear they were made beforehand.
Alterations made after the Will has been signed are not valid unless they are themselves signed or initialled by you and two witnesses, in the same way a Will is signed. If they are not, the original wording stands where it can still be read. Where the original wording has been made unreadable, that part of the Will may fail entirely.
For example, imagine someone who crosses out a gift of £5,000 to a friend and writes £10,000 above it, without witnesses. The change does not count, so the friend receives £5,000. However, if the original figure had been blacked out completely, the friend might receive nothing at all.
Therefore, it is safer not to write on your Will after it is signed. A properly signed new Will, or a Will update if we wrote your Will, avoids these problems.
Codicils
In general law, a codicil is a separate document that changes part of a Will while leaving the rest in place. It must be signed and witnessed in the same way as a Will, with two witnesses present at the same time. However, several codicils can make a Will hard to follow, and a codicil can be lost or separated from the Will.
A.D.E. Wills does not prepare codicils. Instead, if we wrote your Will, we make minor changes, such as replacing an executor or adding a small gift, through a Will update. Major changes need a new Will.
Making a new Will
For significant changes, a new Will is usually the clearest option. A new Will:
- revokes all earlier Wills and codicils, provided it says so
- sets out your wishes in one document
- reduces the risk of confusion or contradictions
You should consider a new Will after major life events. For example, marriage or civil partnership revokes an existing Will unless it was made in contemplation of marriage to a named person. Divorce or dissolution does not revoke a Will, but your former spouse is treated as having died on the date of the final order, which can change who inherits.
Common mistakes to avoid
- writing on a signed Will without witnesses
- using pencil, or making unclear alterations
- having a beneficiary, or their spouse or civil partner, witness your Will
- attaching or removing papers from the Will, such as stapling a note to it
- keeping several codicils that are hard to read together
Assets abroad
If you own assets in another country, check that any change to your Will does not accidentally affect a Will you have made elsewhere. Other countries may also have different rules about which changes they recognise. So it is sensible to take advice from a lawyer in the relevant country about assets there.
Updating a Will written by A.D.E. Wills
If we wrote your Will, we offer a Will update for up to ten minor changes, with the revised Will printed and posted to you. It costs £80 for a single Will or £135 for a couple, and no VAT is charged. Bigger changes need a new Will. Prices are fixed and listed on our Wills Pricing page.
Our plans can also make keeping your Will up to date easier:
- The Safe Will Plan includes fireproof storage, an annual reminder and a free yearly review.
- The Legacy Care Plan includes everything in the Safe Will Plan, plus one minor update a year and a brand-new Will every three years. It is available for Wills written by A.D.E. Wills.
If your Will was not written by us, Edward can prepare a new Will that reflects your current wishes. You can find more general guidance on updating a Will on GOV.UK.
Talk to us about changing your Will
To talk through the amendments to your Will that you have in mind, call 01865 507174 or email info@adewills.co.uk. Your initial chat is free and there is no obligation.
