Have you considered whether your will includes your current assets and accurately reflects your current wishes? (If you do not currently have a will, See “Why Do I Need a Will”) There are various circumstances that can arise which may have an impact on the future execution of a will, such as marriage/divorce, acquiring/selling personal or real property, or winning the lottery! A will created ten years ago is likely not a complete and accurate representation of the testator’s (creator of the will) wishes today.
One way to change your will is to execute a new will. A simple way to prepare a new will is to create a list of your assets that shows who you want each item to be left to upon execution of the will, and then bring that list to an attorney to discuss the more specific aspects of preparing a will. If you wish to revoke your existing will, change beneficiaries, or make several changes to a prior will, executing a new will entirely is likely the easiest option.
Another option to revise your will is to create a codicil. A codicil is a legal document that supplements or amends your current will to reflect your current wishes; it does not revoke your current will. Codicils can be used to replace a specific section or sentence of your existing will without replacing the will entirely. One example of a codicil’s use is to change the name of a beneficiary if they got married after your current will was prepared. Importantly, codicils must also be signed and attested by two witnesses, just like a formal will.
Although revising your will may seem complicated at first, Sullivan Law Firm, PLLC is here to make the process a breeze! If you find that your will is out-of-date or just needs a few sentences changed, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us at sullivanlawfirmpllc.com.
* THIS POST IS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE TO SET UP A CONSULTATION AND TO EXECUTE AN ENGAGEMENT AND FEE AGREEMENT.