Wills · 9 min read · Published
How to Update Your Will: When and Why You Should Review It
When to update your will, the life events that should trigger a review, and whether you need a codicil or a new will.
By Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP, a solicitor in Bridlington who writes every guide himself.
Guides · Wills · No. 14 of 18Published · 9 minutes
Making a will is a good first step, but it is not a document you make once and forget. Your will should reflect your life as it is now, not as it was five or ten years ago. If your circumstances have changed, your will may not do what you think it does.
This guide explains when to review your will, which changes need a new document, and when a short addition (a codicil) is enough.
Why Keeping Your Will Up to Date Matters
An out-of-date will causes real problems. It might leave assets to someone you no longer see, appoint an executor who can no longer act, or leave out people who matter to you now, such as a new partner or grandchildren.
At worst, an out-of-date will can be challenged after your death, leading to legal disputes that eat into the estate and divide the family.
Life Events That Should Trigger a Will Review
These life events should prompt you to review, and probably rewrite, your will:
- Marriage or civil partnership: this revokes your existing will entirely
- Divorce or the end of a civil partnership: gifts to your former spouse fail, as if they had died before you, but the rest of your will stands
- A new child or grandchild: you will want to include them and, for a child, appoint guardians
- Buying or selling property: especially if it changes how you want your assets divided
- An inheritance or a big change in your finances: your estate may now be large enough to pay inheritance tax
- The death of a beneficiary or executor: you need to name replacements
- Moving house: update any property described in your will
- Separation: if you have separated but not divorced, your will still stands as written
- Starting a business: business assets need proper succession planning
- Retirement: check who you have nominated to receive your pension
Codicil or New Will
Codicil vs New Will
| Codicil (Minor Amendment) | New Will (Recommended for Most Changes) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for a small change, such as a new executor | Best for significant life changes | |
| Cheaper than a new will | One clear document with no ambiguity | |
| Must be kept with the original will | Automatically revokes the previous will | |
| Becomes confusing if you make more than one | Costs more but avoids confusion | |
| Same witnessing rules as a will | One document covers everything |
In most cases Aaron recommends a new will rather than a codicil. The difference in cost is small, and a fresh will is much clearer for your executors and family to follow.
How to Update Your Will
Steps to Update Your Will
- Review your current willRead your existing will and note anything that has changed: beneficiaries, executors, guardians, assets or wishes.
- Decide whether you need a codicil or a new willFor a minor change (a new address or a small gift) a codicil may be enough. For anything else, a new will is safer.
- Speak to a solicitorA solicitor will make sure your new will is properly drafted, correctly witnessed and legally valid, and will spot issues you might not have considered.
- Sign and witness the new willYour new will must be signed in the presence of two independent witnesses. A beneficiary, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary, must not witness it, or their gift fails.
- Store your will safelyKeep the original somewhere secure: with your solicitor, in a bank safe deposit box or with the Probate Service's will storage.
- Destroy the old willOnce the new will is signed, destroy the old one completely to avoid confusion. Your solicitor can do this for you.
Local Will Reviews in Bridlington
If you made your will some time ago, perhaps with another solicitor, a will-writing company or an online service, it is worth having it reviewed. Aaron sees many wills with errors, ambiguities or provisions that no longer reflect what the client wants.
Aaron reviews wills for clients across Bridlington, Driffield, Filey, Scarborough and the wider East Yorkshire area. If your will needs updating, he can prepare a new one that reflects your current circumstances.
Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP · Law of England and Wales as at 20 March 2026 · Ends