A Will is a very important document as it enables you to name within it the people whom you would wish to administer your Estate after your death (the Executors); to express your wishes regarding funeral arrangements; to appoint people to look after any children who might be under the age of 18 at the time of your death (Guardians) and to specify who will benefit from your Estate, be it family or friends or charities.
Once a Will has been prepared, it is just as vitally important to review the document every five or six years, or certainly if your personal circumstances change, to ensure that the Will remains relevant, in line with your wishes and tax efficient.
If during such a review it is decided that changes need to be incorporated within the Will, it is not always necessary to completely rewrite the Will (although sometimes this is preferable), but incorporating the changes by way of Codicil may be a quicker and easier and less expensive way of incorporating the necessary changes.
A Codicil, just like the Will itself, is a legal document that enables specific changes to be made to the existing Will, without there being the need for a complete rewriting of the Will. For example, if you wish to change the name of an Executor or of a Guardian, or if you wish to make changes to the funeral provisions set out within your Will or even to add or remove a particular Legatee or Legacy.
We can always advise as to the most appropriate form for amendments. We would always suggest that you discuss your personal circumstances with a solicitor before any amendments are made either by way of fresh Will or Codicil.
If you would like further advice or assistance in relation to this, please do not hesitate to contact Natalie Harvey.