Your will should be a living document that changes with your life. Getting married, having children, buying property, or experiencing a bereavement - all these events mean your will may need updating.
When Should You Update Your Will?
Life Events That Require a Will Review
- Marriage or civil partnership - Marriage automatically revokes your existing will!
- Divorce or separation - Your ex may still inherit under your current will
- Birth or adoption of children - Include new children and appoint guardians
- Death of a beneficiary - Update to avoid complications
- Death of an executor - Appoint a replacement
- Buying or selling property - Especially your main residence
- Significant change in assets - Inheritance, lottery win, business sale
- Moving abroad - Different countries have different rules
- Falling out with a beneficiary - If you want to exclude someone
- Reconciling with someone excluded - If you want to include them
Regular Reviews
Even without major life changes, review your will every 3-5 years. Check that:
- Executors are still appropriate
- Beneficiaries' circumstances haven't changed
- Your assets still match what's in the will
- Tax rules haven't changed in ways that affect your plan
How to Change Your Will
You have two options for updating your will:
Option 1: Codicil
A codicil is a legal document that makes small changes to an existing will without replacing it entirely.
Best for:
- Changing a specific gift
- Adding or removing a beneficiary
- Changing an executor
- Minor corrections
Requirements:
- Must be in writing
- Must be signed and witnessed (same rules as a will)
- Should reference the original will
Cost: £75-150 typically
Option 2: New Will
A completely new will that revokes and replaces your old one.
Best for:
- Major life changes (marriage, divorce, children)
- Multiple changes needed
- When you already have codicils (too many becomes confusing)
- When the original will is old or unclear
Cost: £99-300 for a simple will
Which Should You Choose?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Changing one beneficiary's share | Codicil |
| Adding a new grandchild | Codicil |
| Getting married | New will (old one is void anyway) |
| Getting divorced | New will |
| Will is 10+ years old | New will |
| Already have 2+ codicils | New will |
What NOT to Do
- Cross out or write on your original will
- Add handwritten changes
- Use correction fluid or tape
- Remove or add pages
- Staple additional documents to it
Any of these could invalidate your entire will or create legal disputes.
Special Situations
After Divorce
Divorce doesn't automatically revoke your will, but it does treat your ex-spouse as if they died before you. This means:
- They lose any gifts you left them
- If they were executor, they lose that role
- But the rest of your will remains valid
You should still make a new will after divorce to ensure clarity.
After Separation (Not Divorced)
Separation has NO effect on your will. Your estranged spouse can still inherit everything. Update immediately if you've separated.
After a Beneficiary Dies
If a beneficiary dies before you, their gift typically falls into the residue (unless your will says otherwise). Update your will to redirect the gift as you wish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I review my will?
At minimum, every 3-5 years. Also review after any major life event.
Can I update my will myself?
Technically yes, but DIY changes often cause problems. A codicil costs from £75 - worth it for peace of mind.
Do I need to tell my beneficiaries about changes?
No legal requirement, but it can prevent surprises and disputes later.
What happens to the old will?
Keep it until the new will is properly signed and witnessed. Then destroy it to avoid confusion.