Codicil

A codicil is a formal supplementary document used to amend an existing will without rewriting it. It identifies the original will (by date and testator), states the changes being made, and is signed and witnessed in the same way as a will: in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that means signed by the testator in the presence of two adult witnesses who then sign in the testator's presence; in Scotland, signed by the testator with one witness aged 16 or over to make it self-proving. [source: gov-uk/make-will-2026-05-02.html]

A codicil takes effect alongside the will. It does not replace the will; it modifies it. A will may have more than one codicil, but each additional codicil increases the risk of contradictory provisions, so beyond one or two changes it is normally cleaner to write a fresh will (which expressly revokes all earlier wills and codicils).

Codicils are useful for small, low-risk changes — adding or removing a small legacy, changing an executor, correcting a beneficiary's name. They are not appropriate for changes triggered by a major life event (marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a substantial change in assets), where a new will is the safer route.

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Last verified: 2 May 2026 against gov.uk/make-will/update-your-will.