Introduction
This article is one of a set about wills. It explains how to revoke your will.
You can revoke your will by:
- making a new will, but beware: a will is revoked by a later will only to the extent that new provisions are inconsistent with it. So it is wise always to state that your new will revokes all earlier ones. In practice, if your executors believe they have your latest will, they are unlikely to hunt around for an earlier one which may complicate your estate.
- marrying;
- destroying your old will - preferably in circumstances that make it very clear that you intend to revoke it and are not destroying it accidentally.
If you revoke simply by making a new will and including the usual words of revocation, make sure that you exclude any foreign will in your revocation. If you do not, the arrangements you thought you had made for your villa in Spain may not be effective after all.
N.B. you must not alter your existing Last Will in any way. You must not cross portions out or add other words or blocks of text to it. You should not attach extra pages with pins, staples or clips. It is far better to prepare a new Last Will altogether and then destroy the old one.
Here are just some of the events that would ordinarily require a change to your last Will - there are other reasons.
- if you marry or divorce;
- the birth or adoption of children;
- to add or change guardians for children;
- a significant change in financial status;
- a significant change in tax laws;
- a desire to add beneficiaries;
- a desire to change beneficiaries;
- the death or incapacity of a named executor or trustee;
- to change personal details like address changes for you or someone mentioned in the will
Signing and dating your Will is known as executing your Will. | 
