Updating Your Will UK: When and How to Review It (2026)

Marriage revokes your will entirely. Divorce voids your ex‑spouse's gifts — but leaves the rest of the will standing. A new child, a change of executor, or a major shift in your assets are all reasons to act. This guide explains the eight life events that trigger a review, when a codicil is enough, and when you need a new will altogether.

Why wills go out of date

A will made today reflects your current relationships, assets, and wishes. Five years from now, any of those things may have changed. The Wills Act 1837 allows you to change or revoke a will at any time before death, provided you retain testamentary capacity — and the sooner you act after a life event, the less risk of the wrong people inheriting.

Two life events carry an automatic legal consequence with no action required from you:

Marriage revokes your existing will entirely (s.18 Wills Act 1837). The moment you marry, any will made before the marriage becomes void unless it was made in express contemplation of that specific marriage. See our guide: Does marriage revoke a will UK?
Divorce voids gifts to your ex‑spouse and removes them as executor(s.18A Wills Act 1837) — but the rest of the will continues. This can leave the residuary estate with no named beneficiary. See: Will after divorce UK

All other life events require you to take positive action to update or replace your will.

8 life events that should trigger a will review

1. Marriage

As above — your existing will is automatically revoked. You must make a new one. Separation before marriage does not revoke anything; only the marriage ceremony triggers s.18.

2. Divorce or dissolution of civil partnership

Once the final divorce order is granted, gifts to your former spouse lapse and their executor appointment is removed. The rest of the will stands. If your spouse was your main beneficiary and there is no substitute clause, the residue falls into intestacy. Make a new will as soon as you separate — do not wait for the final order.

3. New child or grandchild

A child born or adopted after the will is made is not automatically included. If you want them to inherit, you must add them via a codicil or a new will. You may also need to appoint or change a guardian for minor children — a critical provision if both parents die simultaneously. See: Guardianship in a will UK

4. Death of a beneficiary or executor

If a beneficiary dies before you and there is no substitute clause, their share either falls into the residue or creates a partial intestacy. If your executor predeceases you and no substitute executor is named, the court must appoint an administrator — an expensive and slow process. Update the will promptly when a key person dies.

5. Major change in assets

Buying property, selling a business, receiving an inheritance, or acquiring significant investments can all change who should benefit and how. A will that says “my house at 12 Oak Street” when you no longer own that house creates a lapsed specific gift. General wording (“my residuary estate”) covers most asset changes, but property and IHT planning often warrant a full review.

6. Change of cohabiting partner

Cohabitants have no automatic inheritance rights under the intestacy rules. If you separate from a long‑term partner and have left them a share of your estate, you must update the will to remove them — the law will not do it for you (only marriage and divorce trigger automatic changes). Similarly, a new partner you want to benefit must be added explicitly.

7. Change of mind about beneficiaries

Relationships change. A falling‑out with a sibling, reconciliation with a child you had excluded, or a new charitable cause you want to support are all valid reasons to update. You do not need to explain your reasons in the will.

8. Moving or retiring abroad

An England and Wales will is generally recognised in most common‑law countries for movable property. However, property abroad is often governed by the law of the country where it is situated. If you acquire overseas property or become habitually resident abroad, a local will covering the foreign assets — alongside your English will covering UK assets — is often advisable.

Codicil vs new will: which do you need?

Change needed	Codicil	New will
Add or remove a specific gift	✓	✓
Change an executor	✓	✓
Change who inherits the residuary estate	—	✓ Recommended
New guardian for children	✓	✓
After marriage (will revoked)	— Cannot revive a revoked will	✓ Required
After divorce	Possible but not recommended	✓ Strongly recommended
Multiple changes at once	— Too complex	✓ Cleaner

A codicil must be executed with the same formalities as the will itself: signed by you in the presence of two independent adult witnesses, who then sign in your presence. Never cross out text or make handwritten amendments directly on the will — this can invalidate the surrounding text. See: Codicil vs new will — which should you choose?

How to revoke an old will

A new will should contain a clause expressly revoking all previous wills and codicils. Once the new will is signed and witnessed, physically destroy the old will — tear or burn it — to prevent confusion. Keep any surviving codicils that still apply together with the new will.

You can also revoke a will without making a new one by destroying it with the intention to revoke — but this leaves you intestate, which is rarely the intended outcome.

How to update your will: four steps

Identify whether a life event has occurred

Marriage (revokes the whole will), divorce (voids your ex-spouse's gifts), new child, death of an executor or beneficiary, major asset change, or change of cohabiting partner are the key triggers. If none apply, a five-year review is still recommended.

Decide: codicil for minor changes, new will for major ones

Use a codicil only for small, self-contained changes such as adding a specific gift or swapping an executor. For anything that changes who inherits the bulk of your estate, appoints new guardians, or reflects a significant life change, make a new will entirely.

Complete your chosen template and sign with two witnesses

Both a codicil and a new will must be signed in the presence of two independent adult witnesses (not beneficiaries or their spouses) who sign immediately afterwards. Failure to witness correctly makes the document invalid.

Revoke the old will if making a new one, and store all documents safely

A new will should include a clause expressly revoking all previous wills and codicils. Physically destroy the old will after signing the new one. Store the signed will (and any remaining codicils) with your executor, in a solicitor's strongroom, or in a bank deposit box — never in a location only you can access.

Minor changes only

Codicil Template Kit

A lawyer-drafted codicil template for England and Wales. Add or remove a specific gift, swap an executor, or update a guardian — without rewriting your whole will. Instant download, completes in under 30 minutes.

£19.99

Get Codicil Template

Major update or new will

Single Will Kit

A complete, legally valid will template for England and Wales. Name new beneficiaries, appoint a new executor, add guardians for children. Replaces your old will entirely. Instant download, completed in under two hours.

£39.99

Get Single Will Kit

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

When should I update my will in the UK?+

You should review your will after any major life event: marriage (which automatically revokes it entirely under s.18 Wills Act 1837); divorce (which voids gifts to your ex-spouse and their executor role under s.18A); the birth or adoption of a child; the death of a beneficiary or executor named in the will; a significant change in your assets (property purchase or sale, inheritance, business change); or a change of partner if you are cohabiting. As a general rule, review your will every five years even if nothing obvious has changed, because your assets, relationships, and tax position all evolve over time.

Does divorce automatically update my will?+

Divorce does not revoke your will. Under section 18A of the Wills Act 1837, when a final divorce order is granted: (1) any gift in the will to your former spouse automatically lapses — they are treated as having predeceased you; and (2) any appointment of your former spouse as executor or trustee is automatically removed. The rest of the will — gifts to children, other family, charities — continues as written. This can leave your estate in a dangerous position if your ex-spouse was the main beneficiary, because the residuary estate may then have no beneficiary and fall into intestacy. Making a new will after divorce is strongly recommended.

Does marriage revoke my existing will?+

Yes. Marriage revokes any will you made before the marriage, in its entirety, under section 18 of the Wills Act 1837. The only exception is if the will was made in express contemplation of that specific marriage and states that it is not to be revoked by it. Without that wording, the moment you marry, your existing will becomes void. If you then die without making a new will, your estate passes under the intestacy rules — which may not reflect your wishes, particularly if you have children from a previous relationship. You must make a new will after every marriage.

Should I add a codicil or make an entirely new will?+

Use a codicil for small, self-contained changes: adding a specific gift (a piece of jewellery, a named sum to a charity), changing an executor who has moved or died, or correcting a minor error. A codicil must be signed and witnessed with the same formalities as the original will — two independent adult witnesses present at the same time — and it operates alongside the original will, so both documents must be stored together and proved in probate. For anything more substantial — changing who inherits the bulk of your estate, new guardians, a new partner, major asset changes, or multiple codicils already in place — make a new will instead. A new will is cleaner, reduces the risk of the estate being contested, and is easier for your executor to administer. Never cross out words or make handwritten amendments to a will — this can invalidate both the amendment and the surrounding text.

Can I change my will at any time?+

Yes, provided you have testamentary capacity: you understand that you are making a will, you know broadly what property you own, you know who might reasonably expect to benefit, and you are not suffering from a disorder of the mind that poisons your affections or perverts your sense of right. You can change or revoke your will at any time before death by making a codicil, making a new will that expressly revokes the old one, or by physically destroying the will with the intention of revoking it. Mental incapacity — advanced dementia or similar — can prevent you from making a valid will or codicil, which is why it is important to act while you have full capacity.

How often should I review my will?+

As a minimum, review your will every five years. In practice most people should review after every major life event: marriage, divorce, separation, new child, death of a key person in the will, significant property or financial change, moving abroad, or a change in UK succession law. The five-year rule exists because even without dramatic events your relationships, asset mix, and tax position drift over time — a will written when your children were toddlers may need updating when they are adults. A review does not necessarily mean a rewrite: you may read it and conclude it still reflects your wishes perfectly, in which case no action is needed.

This guide covers the law in England and Wales only. It is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Scots law on wills and succession differs significantly. If your estate involves trusts, foreign property, business assets, or children from multiple relationships, consider a review with an SRA‑regulated solicitor. Last updated 28 June 2026.