Strategies for Changing Your Will

After you execute your will, circumstances may arise that result in the desire to change your will. You can do this at any time you wish, so long as the documents are properly executed and witnessed, and you are considered mentally competent to do so.

Depending on how much you wish to change and what steps you prefer to take, there are several methods to modify your will:

• Codicil: A will codicil is a legal document that amends a will. It could be appropriate if you want to make minor changes, such as updating a beneficiary’s name that was been changed after a marriage or divorce, or if you need to change the personal representative nomination. This document is attached to the original will and explicitly states the changes made.
• Personal property memorandum: This is legally enforceable only if you have a will in place and is a separate document that should be attached to your most recent will.
• Executing a new will: Perhaps the most effective method of changing a will is revoking an existing will and re-writing another. If you are making several small changes or any number of significant changes, this is the best option to prevent confusion and ensure the will is followed according to your exact wishes. Just make sure you destroy the prior original will upon execution of the new one.

For more information about changing your will, contact an experienced Tampa, FL attorney at BaumannKangas Estate Law.