Wills
Can I Change My Will? A Guide to Codicils and Will Updates
Yes — you can change your will at any time, as long as you have mental capacity to do so. Changes can be made through a codicil (a formal amendment) or by making an entirely new will. At Legacy Lines, we help clients across Kent update their wills when circumstances change, ensuring their wishes remain clearly documented and legally valid.
In this guide
Can you change your will?
Yes. A will is not a permanent, unchangeable document. You can revise, amend or completely replace your will at any point during your lifetime, provided you have the mental capacity to do so. There is no limit on the number of times you can change your will.
The key legal requirement is mental capacity: you must understand that you are making or changing a will, understand the nature of your assets and the people who might reasonably expect to benefit from your estate, and be acting freely without undue influence.
You cannot change a will by simply writing on it after it has been signed. Any amendment made to a signed will that has not been properly executed as a codicil or new will has no legal effect.
What is a codicil?
A codicil is a formal legal document that amends a specific part of an existing will. It does not replace the will — it sits alongside it and changes named provisions. A codicil must be executed with the same formalities as the original will:
- Signed by the testator in the presence of two independent adult witnesses
- Both witnesses must sign the codicil in the testator's presence
- Witnesses cannot be beneficiaries under the will or codicil
- The codicil must clearly identify which will it amends
A codicil is stored alongside the original will and both are used together when the estate is administered. Courts have upheld codicils made many decades after the original will — the key is correct execution.
When should you make a new will instead?
A codicil is appropriate for simple, clearly defined changes. In most other cases, a new will is cleaner, simpler to administer and less likely to create ambiguity. Legacy Lines generally recommends a new will in any of these circumstances:
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage automatically revokes all previous wills, so a new will is essential.
Divorce
Although divorce does not revoke a will, it significantly changes its effect. A new will is strongly advisable.
Multiple changes
If you are making more than one or two changes, a new will is clearer than a codicil with multiple amendments.
Changing executor or trustee
Executor changes are important and worth a clean document.
Adding trust provisions
Trust structures involve complex provisions best incorporated in a new will rather than added as an amendment.
Significant change in assets
Major changes to your estate — inheritance, property purchase, business sale — often warrant a full review and new will.
What you must never do to a will
The following actions will not create a valid amendment to a will and can cause serious problems when the estate is administered:
- Crossing out text in the original will after it has been signed
- Writing in the margins or between lines of a signed will
- Making handwritten additions to a signed will without formal execution
- Stapling or attaching notes to a will
- Attempting to delete or remove pages from a signed will
Any alterations that appear to have been made after the will was signed will be presumed to have been made after execution and will have no effect. Worse, they can raise questions about whether other parts of the document are authentic, potentially delaying probate.
How much does it cost to change a will?
A simple codicil for a minor amendment costs less than a new will. A new single will starts from £175 at Legacy Lines. If you are updating both your own will and your partner's simultaneously, the cost is lower than updating them separately. Contact Legacy Lines for a fixed-fee quote based on your specific requirements — all pricing is agreed before any work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my will after it has been signed?
Yes. You can change your will at any time while you have mental capacity to do so. Changes can be made using a codicil (a formal amendment) or by making a new will entirely. You cannot simply cross out text or write on an existing will after it has been signed.
What is a codicil?
A codicil is a formal legal document that amends an existing will. It must be signed and witnessed with the same formalities as the original will — two independent adult witnesses present when you sign, who also sign in your presence. A codicil is suitable for minor, clearly defined changes.
When should I make a new will instead of a codicil?
For any substantial change — new beneficiaries, change of executor, trust provisions, change after divorce or remarriage — a new will is usually cleaner and avoids confusion. At Legacy Lines, we generally recommend a new will for anything beyond a single simple change.
Can I change my will if I am older or in poor health?
Yes, provided you have the mental capacity to understand what you are doing. Age or physical illness alone does not prevent you from making or changing a will. A professional will writer can assess capacity and document the process appropriately.
How much does it cost to change a will?
A codicil for a simple amendment costs less than a new will. At Legacy Lines, we provide transparent fixed-fee pricing for all will updates. Contact us for a quote based on your specific requirements.