Codicil to Will Form

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A Codicil to Will is a legal amendment between a testator and witnesses that modifies specific terms of an existing will. It is used to make small updates without rewriting the entire will.
Codicil to Will

 

State of  ,   County

 

I,  , an individual residing at   (the "Testator"), declare this to be my   codicil (the "Codicil") to my Last Will and Testament (the "Will") created by me on  . I declare that I am of legal age and sound mind that this Codicil expresses my wishes without undue influence or duress.

 

My Will shall be amended and modified to change the following:

 

 

All other terms, conditions, statements, and requests of the Will shall remain in effect. In every respect, I hereby ratify, reaffirm, and republish my Will dated  .

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the Testator, have authorized this Codicil on the undersigned date and in the presence of two witnesses and a notary public.

 

Signature: ________________________________

Printed name:  

 

Witness Acknowledgment

 

On the date last above written,  , known by us to be the person whose signature appears at the end of this Codicil, declared to us,   and  , the undersigned, that the foregoing instrument was the Codicil to the Will dated  ; who then signed the Codicil in our presence, and now, in the presence of each other, we sign our names as witnesses.

 

Witness 1

 

Signature: ________________________________

Printed name:  

 

Witness 2

 

Signature: ________________________________

Printed name:  

Notary Acknowledgment

State of  

Acting in the county of  

 

 

 

Sworn to and subscribed before me on ___________________________.

 

 

 

___________________________________

Place for signature

 

 

 

______________________________________

Notary public's name and seal

Written by Karyna Pukaniuk - Reviewed by Jonathan McGill

Template Description

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Paper titled "Codicil to Will"; woman talking to a man standing by the desk

A codicil to will, referred to as a codicil, bears considerable importance for individuals preparing to revise their will. This legal document indicates a change in direction — it denotes that the stipulations of the original will have been reconsidered and appropriately altered.

When to Use a Codicil to Will

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A codicil form might be necessary whenever original provisions in a will need updating. This can occur due to changes in life circumstances such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child, or significant shifts in financial situations, like acquiring or losing substantial assets. A codicil to will form serves as a legal affirmation that the original will's terms have evolved, modifying the anticipations regarding the distribution of the estate to reflect the current scenario.

Parties

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  • Testator — This is the individual or entity who initially prepared the will. It is this individual or entity's responsibility to maintain the will current and valid according to their evolving circumstances. Once they decide to make any alterations in the will, a codicil is drafted. This document represents that the testator has intentionally revised their original will, initiating an addendum to the will form as part of their official testamentary dispositions.

  • Witnesses — These are the individuals, usually two in number, who preside over the signing of the will codicil form. In the process of executing the codicil, the witnesses are responsible for authenticating that the testator was in a sound state of mind and willingly made the changes to their will. Upon doing so, the witnesses sign the blank codicil form, confirming their presence during its execution. Their signatures lend added legal credibility to the document.

Key Terms

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  • Beneficiary: The person or entity that will receive an asset, property, or benefit from the testator.
  • Estate: All of the testator's property, including physical belongings, real estate, and monetary assets.
  • Executor: The person appointed by the testator to carry out the instructions in the will.

How to Write a Codicil to Will

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Drafting a codicil to your will doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a proper understanding of relevant clauses and key terms, you can confidently and precisely amend your will as per your evolving needs. Easy-to-use resources such as a codicil to will template can provide the structured framework that simplifies this process. Here are the steps you should follow:

  1. Identify the will:
    Begin your amendment to the will form by referring to the original will using your full name and the exact date when the will was created. A sample codicil to a will might provide a model to follow.

  2. Declare the intent:
    It's essential to state that you mean to make changes to your will through the codicil. The codicil examples could help guide you through properly phrasing your intentions.

  3. Detail the changes:
    Next, describe what changes are being made. This could involve adding, deleting, or replacing sections within the will. Here, viewing a codicil template could help you better understand how such changes could be outlined.

  4. Reference the remainder of the will:
    After describing the changes, assert that the remainder of the will stays intact, barring the changes you've outlined.

  5. Signature and date:
    At the end of the document, you must sign and date the codicil similarly to how you did the original will, indicating that you agree with the applied modifications.

  6. Attestation by witnesses:
    Finally, have the document attested by at least two witnesses, just as you did for the original will. These witnesses confirm that you have created this codicil willingly while in a sound frame of mind. They will then sign and date the codicil.

In conclusion, using a codicil to will proves advantageous for implementing amendments to one's existing will without needing to revise the entire document. This practice presents an efficient and practical method, facilitating the defense of your assets while also ensuring the accurate allocation of your estate amongst the intended beneficiaries. Utilizing a free printable codicil to will is an excellent starting point for making precise adjustments tailored to your evolving circumstances.

While a codicil template PDF helps to streamline the process by providing a clear structure to follow, it is crucial to engage with a legal professional for consultation. This step assures that the codicil accurately reflects your intentions, stands up to legal scrutiny, and abides by all the relevant legal standards and conditions in your jurisdiction, securing your best interests in the long run.

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