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Wills, trusts, and estates

codicil

A codicil is a supplement to a previous will that adds to, modifies, amends, or revokes one or more provisions of the earlier will. Laws regarding codicils vary from state to state and in some states a codicil may not replace an earlier will—but in some states it may.

In Pennsylvania, a codicil is a legal instrument that is used to make changes to an existing will. It allows the testator (the person who made the will) to add to, modify, amend, or revoke provisions of their will without having to draft a new will from scratch. The codicil must be executed with the same formalities as a will, which means it must be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed by two individuals who are present at the same time and understand that the document is intended to be a will or a codicil to a will. While a codicil can make specific changes to the will, it does not replace the original will. Instead, it is read in conjunction with the will and is considered part of the testamentary documents that express the testator's final wishes. If there are any conflicts between the provisions of the will and the codicil, the terms of the codicil will generally prevail, provided it was the last testamentary document executed by the testator.

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Understanding Codicils: An Essential Guide to Amending Your Will

In the world of wills and estate planning, there's a savvy solution to avoid this hassle, and it's called a codicil. A codicil is like a legal 'P.S.' to your will. It allows you to make specific changes or additions without needing a full rewrite.

Pennsylvania State Code

Wills, trusts, and estates