Keeping Your Will Up to Date

Why a will needs looking after

Your will takes effect when you die, which may be many years after you sign it. If your life has changed since then, it may no longer do what you want. Some changes can even cancel it.

A quick review every so often, and after any big change, keeps it working for the people you care about.

When to review your will

Marriage or civil partnership

Under the current law in England and Wales, getting married or forming a civil partnership cancels an existing will. The exception is a will made with that particular marriage or civil partnership in mind.

The Law Commission has proposed ending this rule, but the law has not changed yet. Until it does, plan to make a new will when you marry. Our guide on marriage and your will explains the proposal.

Divorce or dissolution

A final divorce or dissolution does not cancel your will. Instead, your former spouse or civil partner is treated as if they had died. Any gift to them fails, and they can no longer act as your executor or trustee.

That can send money somewhere you did not expect. Separation on its own changes nothing, so a separated spouse can still inherit under your will. See updating your will after marriage or divorce.

Children and grandchildren

A new child or grandchild is a good reason to check your will. You may want to name guardians, change shares, or choose the age at which children inherit. See leaving your estate to children.

Moving home or moving abroad

If your will leaves a particular house to someone and you sell it, that gift can fail. Moving abroad, or buying property abroad, can raise questions about which country's law applies.

A death

If a beneficiary, executor, trustee or guardian dies, check who takes their place. If your will names no backup, part of your estate could pass under the intestacy rules instead.

Changes in wealth

A large rise or fall in what you own can change how fair your will feels. It can also change your inheritance tax position. Starting a business or receiving an inheritance are both good reasons for a review.

Every few years

Even if nothing big happens, read your will every few years. Check that the people you named are still the right choices, and still willing to act.

A new will or a codicil?

There are two ways to change a will.

• A new will replaces the old one completely. It says that it cancels any earlier wills. This is the clearest option and usually the best.
• A codicil is a separate document that changes part of your existing will. It suits one small change, such as replacing an executor.

A codicil can be lost or separated from the will, and several codicils can be confusing. For anything more than a small change, a new will is usually better. Our guide What Is a Codicil? explains more.

Every change must be signed and witnessed

You cannot change a will by writing on it, crossing things out or adding notes. Changes made like that may be ignored, and they can cast doubt on the whole will.

A new will or a codicil must be signed in the same way as the original:

• you sign it in front of two witnesses, who are both there at the same time
• both witnesses then sign it in front of you
• neither witness, nor their spouse or civil partner, should receive anything under it

Please never write on your signed will. Keep your old will until the new one has been signed and witnessed properly.

How GetWill keeps your will up to date

Review reminders

We email you a reminder to review your GetWill will three years after you sign it, and every three years after that. Each reminder lists the life changes worth checking. You can turn reminders off with one click.

Updating your will

Log in to your account and choose to update your will. Your previous answers open again, so you only change what is different. Fifty Six Law reviews the new will before it is finalised, just as before.

One round of changes is included before your will is first finalised. Later updates cost £25 per will, including delivery. If you have a Complex will, our team will talk the changes through with you first.

Keeping the original safe

Your signed original is the document that counts. Fifty Six Law can keep it in safe storage, free for life. You pay only the postage to send it to us.

We check it, bind it and send you a certificate of safe custody. When you sign a new will, you can store the new original with us in the same way. You can ask for your original back at any time, and your executors are always free to choose who deals with your estate.

Next steps

• Existing customers: log in to your account
• Make a new will: /intake
• How updates work: Will updates
• Signing and storing: What to Do After Receiving Your Will