When should you update your Will?

You may wish to make a new Will or consider changing your existing Will in the following cases: If there are changes to the Inheritance Tax rules or other relevant changes in legislation. If you get married or divorced. If you buy or sell anything that you have made a specific gift of in your Will. If you have more children. If you move outside the UK. If the person you appointed as a guardian dies, or becomes too ill to look after your children if you die. If you want to change your executors. If you change your mind about anything in your Will. In all these circumstances, it is best to make the position absolutely clear with a new Will. Your Will is cancelled automatically, if: You make a subsequent Will You get married or enter a civil partnership Your Will is physically destroyed You will then need to make a new Will or the rules of intestacy will apply.

How easy is it to update a Will?

There are situations in which you might want to keep a previous Will, but just make minor changes to it. You can do this by making a codicil. If you want to make more fundamental changes to your Will, we recommend making a new Will. We advise that any codicil is professionally drawn up as it may otherwise have unintended consequences. Please also remember that to be effective a codicil must be signed, witnessed and dated in the same way as a Will. The codicil is subject to the same formal requirements as the Will. Common uses of a codicil are: To change an executor To change a specific gift To add a beneficiary Other minor alterations If you want to make more fundamental changes to your Will, we recommend making a new Will. We also recommend making a new Will if you do not want people to know the specific changes in your Will, as your last Will and codicils to it become public documents once the Grant of Probate has been issued.

Changing a Will | Expert Legal Advice

Ensuring your Will reflects your current wishes

Changing Will

Your financial and family circumstances change as time passes, so it is important that you review the terms of your Will at regular intervals. We recommend that at least once every five years you carefully consider whether you need to make a new Will, or whether you need to change your existing Will.

At Nelsons, we have a team of expert Wills and Probate solicitors in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham who specialise in providing expert guidance to individuals looking to modify or revise their existing Wills.

Changing a Will – How we can help

Our team of expert solicitors can provide the following services when changing your Will:

Thorough Will reviews – Our solicitors conduct thorough reviews of your existing Will to identify any outdated provisions or potential areas for improvement. We then work closely with you to discuss and implement necessary updates.
Legal advice on amendments – Whether you need to make minor changes by making a codicil or substantial amendments to your Will, our legal experts provide clear and concise advice. We ensure that any modifications comply with current laws and regulations.
Documentation and filing – Once updates are made, we handle the documentation and filing processes, ensuring that your updated Will is legally valid and properly stored.

Our team, which are recommended by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500, offers a choice of ways to help you when making or changing a Will, according to how much you want to spend and how much support you would like.

Also, whilst Wills are quite personal documents and many of our clients prefer having face-to-face contact, we are able to speak to you regarding the creation or updating of a Will over the phone or other electronic means (e.g. a video call). We will talk through your circumstances and then draft the Will, which will then be sent out to you by e-mail or post for your approval.

Why choose Nelsons?

Expertise in Will updates – Our solicitors possess extensive experience in handling Will amendments and updates. Benefit from our knowledge of the latest legal requirements to ensure your Will remains legally sound.
Personalised service – We understand that your Will is a personal document, and our solicitors provide individualised attention to ensure that updates reflect your specific wishes and concerns.
Timely and efficient service – We prioritise efficiency in the updating process to ensure that your Will reflects your current wishes promptly. Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind about the security and accuracy of your estate plan.

Testimonials…

"Nelsons Solicitors Limited has an extensive offering, with practitioners having experience of trust administration, Court of Protection work, investment management, wills and probate..."
The Legal 500
"The legal work has been excellent and on time. A major difference between Nelsons and other major law firms we have dealt with is that they focus on a personal touch..."
The Legal 500 2023
"...Knowing they are there and can check up on any changes we need to make on legal issues is comforting."
The Legal 500 2023 (Continued)
"Nelsons...acts on matters ranging from wills and estates, lifetime and tax planning, asset protection and care fee planning, through to trust structuring, with a focus on high net-worth individuals and those with international assets."
The Legal 500 2023
"Key strengths and capabilities in my opinion are: – the ability to visit clients at home which reduced anxiety for our family..."
Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024
"...– professionals who are knowledgeable, approachable and respectful – Clear and accurate information regarding the processes involved – Efficient delivery of paperwork, etc."
Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024 (Continued)

Need to update your Will? Get in touch

If you’re considering updating your Will, our dedicated team of solicitors is here to assist you. Please call us on 0800 024 1976 or contact us via our online enquiry form to discuss how to ensure that the terms of your Will are exactly as you intend them.

Changing a Will FAQs

When should you update your Will?
You may wish to make a new Will or consider changing your existing Will in the following cases:
- If there are changes to the Inheritance Tax rules or other relevant changes in legislation.
- If you get married or divorced.
- If you buy or sell anything that you have made a specific gift of in your Will.
- If you have more children.
- If you move outside the UK.
- If the person you appointed as a guardian dies, or becomes too ill to look after your children if you die.
- If you want to change your executors.
- If you change your mind about anything in your Will.
In all these circumstances, it is best to make the position absolutely clear with a new Will.

Your Will is cancelled automatically, if:
- You make a subsequent Will
- You get married or enter a civil partnership
- Your Will is physically destroyed
You will then need to make a new Will or the rules of intestacy will apply.
How easy is it to update a Will?
There are situations in which you might want to keep a previous Will, but just make minor changes to it. You can do this by making a codicil. If you want to make more fundamental changes to your Will, we recommend making a new Will.

We advise that any codicil is professionally drawn up as it may otherwise have unintended consequences. Please also remember that to be effective a codicil must be signed, witnessed and dated in the same way as a Will.

The codicil is subject to the same formal requirements as the Will. Common uses of a codicil are:
- To change an executor
- To change a specific gift
- To add a beneficiary
- Other minor alterations
If you want to make more fundamental changes to your Will, we recommend making a new Will.

We also recommend making a new Will if you do not want people to know the specific changes in your Will, as your last Will and codicils to it become public documents once the Grant of Probate has been issued.