How to Change a Will after Signing

If you decide to change the provisions in your Will, be sure your family and attorney are aware of this new situation. They may not need to know the contents of your new Will, but they should know that it exists in order to limit any potential confusion after your death.

Changing your Will isn’t difficult, but you cannot simply cross out a sentence or add a new sentence. You must either create a “Codicil”, which is an amendment to your Will, or create a new Will.

• ?A Codicil can be used to make minor revisions without changing the entire Will. However, a Codicil still must be signed and witnessed following the same formalities that were used for the Will itself.
• Prepare a new Will if you wish to make a lot of changes, or a few major ones. You’ll want to include a formal statement in the new Will revoking the old Will.

In some states, a divorce has the effect of revoking your Will, at least as to those provisions that relate to your former spouse.

Laws on this topic may vary from state to state. This content is not meant to provide you with complete information and it is not intended to be legal or tax advice. It is recommended that you consult with your own attorney, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation.