A will should not be made once and then forgotten.
Your family, finances, property and priorities can change considerably over time. A will that suited you several years ago may no longer reflect your wishes—or the people you would now trust to carry them out.
As a general guide, it is sensible to review your will every three to five years and after any significant change in your personal or financial circumstances. A review does not necessarily mean that a new will is required. It simply checks that the document remains valid, practical and appropriate.
This guide explains when to review or update a will in England and Wales, which life events matter most, and how changes should be made correctly.
How often should you review your will?
There is no single review interval that is right for everyone. For many people, reviewing a will every three to five years is a sensible starting point.
You should review it sooner when there has been a major change involving:
- your marriage, civil partnership or relationship;
- children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries;
- your executors or guardians;
- your home, savings, investments or business interests;
- your health or care arrangements;
- tax or succession rules that may affect your plans; or
- where you or your beneficiaries live.
A regular review is particularly useful in retirement, when property, pensions, family responsibilities and later-life plans may all be changing. Read our guide explaining why everyone should review their will after retirement.
Reviewing a will is not the same as replacing it
A review is a structured check of your existing arrangements. It may confirm that your will still does exactly what you want.
During a review, consider whether:
- the people named in the will are still alive and part of your life;
- your executors remain suitable and willing to act;
- your gifts and shares of the estate still reflect your wishes;
- the will deals properly with your present assets;
- any guardianship provisions remain appropriate;
- beneficiaries’ circumstances have changed;
- the original signed will is safe and can be located; and
- your family knows where the original is stored.
If nothing important has changed, no amendment may be needed. If the changes are significant, making a new will is often clearer than adding several amendments.
When should you update your will?
After getting married or entering a civil partnership
Under the law currently applying in England and Wales, marriage or civil partnership will generally revoke an existing will. There are limited exceptions, including where a will was drafted in contemplation of marriage or civil partnership to a particular person.
This means you should not assume that a will made before the ceremony remains effective. Review the position before the marriage or civil partnership where possible, and again afterwards if necessary.
After separation, divorce or dissolution
Separation alone does not normally alter a will.
A final divorce or dissolution does not usually revoke the whole will either. Broadly, the former spouse or civil partner is treated as having died before the person who made the will for certain gifts and appointments. This can create an outcome that is very different from what you intended, particularly if there are no suitable replacement beneficiaries or executors.
Review your will when a relationship breaks down rather than waiting for the formal process to finish. Tailored advice may be needed where financial arrangements remain unresolved.
After the birth or adoption of a child or grandchild
A new child or grandchild may affect who you want to benefit, how gifts should be held and whom you would wish to appoint as a guardian for a child under 18.
Some wills are drafted to include future children or grandchildren as a class, but you should not assume that yours does. Check the precise wording.
When a beneficiary dies
If a beneficiary dies before you, the outcome depends on the wording of your will and, in some situations, statutory rules.
The gift may pass to substitute beneficiaries, pass elsewhere under the will or fail. A review allows you to decide whether the existing fallback arrangements still reflect your wishes.
When an executor dies or becomes unsuitable
An executor may die, lose capacity, move abroad, become difficult to contact or decide that they would not want the responsibility.
You may also feel differently about their suitability after a change in your relationship or family circumstances. Our guide to choosing executors explains the qualities to consider and why replacement executors can be useful.
After buying, selling or changing ownership of property
Your home is often one of the most valuable assets in your estate. Buying a new property, downsizing, selling a property mentioned in the will or changing how a property is owned can affect your plans.
Jointly owned property may pass outside the will depending on the form of ownership. A will review should therefore consider both the wording of the will and how the property is legally held.
After a major change in finances
Receiving an inheritance, selling a business, building substantial savings or experiencing a significant reduction in assets can all affect whether the gifts in your will remain balanced and practical.
For example, a fixed cash gift that was modest when the will was made could represent a much larger proportion of the estate years later. Conversely, an estate may no longer contain enough to meet every fixed gift in full.
When starting, buying or selling a business
Business interests can require careful succession planning. Your will may need to work alongside a partnership agreement, shareholders’ agreement, company articles, insurance arrangements and tax planning.
A change in ownership or structure is a good reason to obtain appropriate professional advice and review your will.
When a beneficiary’s circumstances change
A direct gift may no longer be the most suitable arrangement if a beneficiary:
- is under 18;
- has a disability or needs additional support;
- is experiencing financial difficulty;
- is going through divorce or bankruptcy;
- has difficulty managing money; or
- lives in another country.
Different arrangements may be available, but they should be considered carefully and drafted for the individual circumstances.
When you move abroad or acquire overseas assets
Wills, succession rules and tax treatment differ between countries. If you move abroad, return to the UK or buy property overseas, obtain advice covering every relevant jurisdiction.
More than one will may sometimes be appropriate, but the documents must be coordinated so that one does not accidentally revoke another.
When your health or later-life plans change
A diagnosis, increasing care needs or a move into supported living can prompt a wider review of your affairs.
Your will only operates after death. It does not authorise anybody to manage your money, property, care or medical decisions during your lifetime. Those matters may require a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Your children cannot automatically make decisions for you simply because they are your children. Our related guide explains why children cannot automatically make decisions for a parent.
Can you change your will yourself?
Do not write on the signed will, cross out clauses, attach informal notes or add instructions in the margin.
Handwritten alterations made after signing may be ineffective and can create uncertainty about the condition and validity of the document. An informal note does not usually change a valid will.
Changes should be made formally by:
- a codicil, which amends an existing will; or
- a new will that revokes the earlier document.
Both options must be prepared, signed and witnessed correctly.
Should you use a codicil or make a new will?
A codicil may be suitable for a limited, straightforward change. For example, it might replace an executor or make a small adjustment while leaving the rest of the will unchanged.
A new will is often preferable where:
- several clauses need changing;
- family circumstances have become more complicated;
- you want to alter the main beneficiaries or division of the estate;
- the existing will already has a codicil;
- the document is old or difficult to interpret;
- your assets have changed substantially; or
- you want the arrangements set out in one clear document.
For major changes, GOV.UK recommends making a new will. A properly drafted new will should revoke earlier wills and codicils.
Do mirror wills need to be reviewed together?
Mirror wills are separate wills, usually made by couples with broadly matching provisions. Either person can change their own will, provided they have the required mental capacity.
It is often sensible for a couple to review their arrangements together so they can check that their plans remain aligned. However, each person’s will and instructions must still be considered individually. Read our guide to mirror wills.
What if your old will no longer reflects your wishes?
Until a valid change is completed, the existing will may continue to govern your estate—unless it has been revoked by an event such as marriage or civil partnership.
Simply telling relatives what you now want is not a reliable substitute. Neither is writing a separate informal list that attempts to change who receives money or property.
If there is no valid will when you die, your estate is distributed under the intestacy rules. Read our guide explaining what happens if you die without a will.
A practical will-review checklist
When reviewing your will, ask:
- Has my relationship or marital status changed?
- Have there been births, adoptions or deaths in the family?
- Are my executors still appropriate and willing?
- Are the named beneficiaries and substitute beneficiaries correct?
- Do the gifts still make sense in light of my current estate?
- Have I bought, sold or changed ownership of property?
- Have I acquired business interests or overseas assets?
- Do any beneficiaries now require different arrangements?
- Is my original will secure and easy for my executors to locate?
- Do I also need to review my Lasting Powers of Attorney?
Reviewing your will in Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch
Brooks Wills helps individuals and couples across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, wider Dorset and West Hampshire make and review wills in clear, plain English.
A review can confirm that your present will remains suitable or identify changes that should be made formally. We explain the options clearly, without pressure, so you can decide on the right next step for your circumstances.
Learn more about our professional will-writing services.
Brooks Wills is a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters and the Society of Will Writers.
Call, message or book a consultation to arrange a will review.
Simplifying legacies, securing tomorrow.
This article provides general information for England and Wales. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. The correct arrangements depend on your individual circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Is a will still valid after ten years?
A will does not normally expire simply because it is old. It may remain valid, but it could be out of date or may have been affected by a later marriage or civil partnership. Review the document and your circumstances rather than relying on its age alone.
Should I update my will every five years?
Reviewing it every three to five years is a useful general habit. Review it sooner after a major change involving your family, executors, property, finances, business, health or residence.
Does getting married cancel an existing will?
Under the law currently applying in England and Wales, marriage or civil partnership generally revokes an existing will, subject to limited exceptions such as a properly drafted will made in contemplation of that marriage or civil partnership.
Does divorce cancel a will?
A final divorce or dissolution does not normally cancel the entire will. Broadly, it affects gifts and appointments involving the former spouse or civil partner as though they had died first. The resulting distribution may not match your wishes, so a review is important.
Can I make changes by writing on my will?
You should not alter the signed document by handwriting, crossing out clauses or attaching informal instructions. Changes should be made through a valid codicil or a properly executed new will.
Do I need a new will if an executor dies?
Not always. The will may name another or replacement executor who can act. A review is still sensible so you can check that enough suitable executors remain and decide whether a formal change is needed.
