Who Can Help Me Revise and Amend My Will?

• When should I update my will?
• What a will does, and why it’s important to update it
• Who can help me change my will?
• Steps to amend a will
• FAQ
• References

While it may be possible to revise and amend a will on your own, it is usually best to get the help of a financial or legal expert to make sure the document does exactly what you intend. 

You can update a will as often as you want. Many people choose to update theirs when major changes occur to inheritance law or what they want to happen to their assets when they die.

When should I update my will?

There are various scenarios in which it is appropriate to update a will. Some events that warrant updating it include the following:

• Marriage
• A new partner without marriage
• Divorce
• A new baby or child
• New stepchildren
• Moving to a new state
• Acquiring new assets of significant financial or emotional value
• Any major change in the way you feel about someone who will or won’t benefit from your will as it currently is

What a will does, and why it’s important to update it

Broadly speaking, a will is a legally binding document that helps to guarantee your assets are distributed as you desire after your death and that your loved ones understand your wishes. A will is extremely important in any case where the default way in which property is distributed in your state differs from the way you want that property distributed. 

For example, if you have loved ones who aren’t closely related to you and you aren’t married, a will is essentially the only way to make sure they are guaranteed a portion of your property in the event of your death.

If your wishes regarding your property or the laws that govern what will be done with your property when you die change, it’s a good time to update your will. Revising a will is generally not expensive, and it helps guarantee that your property goes to the people you want to have it. Updating your will with the help of a legal or financial expert can help you feel more confident that the document is legally binding and does what you want it to.

Who can help me change my will?

Several types of professionals can help you change your will:

Estate planning attorneys

Estate planning attorneys are lawyers who specialize in helping individuals determine what happens to their assets in the event of death or incapacitation. They are one of the most common types of professionals used to change or write up a new will. 

Financial advisors

A financial advisor is an expert whose job is to provide advice to help clients achieve their financial interests. While not necessarily legal experts, financial advisors often have a strong enough grasp of the law as it relates to finances that they can help an individual write up and edit a will. 

Certified public accountants (CPAs)

A CPA is a financial professional who is licensed in their state to serve as an accountant to the public. In many cases, a CPA is a financial professional capable of helping an individual with the basics of estate planning, including writing or updating a will. 

Legal aid services

In many places, low-income individuals can use legal aid services to get access to legal expertise they normally wouldn’t be able to afford. For those who qualify, these services often enable a person to get a will written and updated as needed. The specifics of this process vary depending on the programs in your area.

Trust officer at a financial institution

A trust officer is a type of financial professional who generally works for a financial institution, such as a bank, and provides advice on matters relating to trusts and estates. They broadly fall under the category of financial advisor, but they’re worth mentioning separately due to their specialization. If an individual has a complex estate or a trust in place, a professional like this can be a good choice to help you work around these issues. 

Online legal services

Many organizations can provide legal expertise online. An option like this may allow you to get the help of a financial or legal professional who may not live nearby, which can make it easier to get quality service at a good price. Research any company offering such legal services to make sure they are reputable, especially when dealing with a document as important as your will.

Steps to amend a will

The first step to amending a will is usually to contact a financial or legal professional with the expertise to guarantee the amendment works as you want it to. Any change you make should be legally binding, thorough, and easily understood. It should present no loopholes to allow bad actors to manipulate the wording of the document. 

The professional you hire may be able to accomplish your goals through what is called a codicil. This is a legal term that refers to something that supplements a person’s will, amending or revoking some part of the will without completely replacing the document. 

In some cases, your will may instead need to be totally replaced, although some of the terms in your new will may be similar to those in the old will. 

Because a new will would completely override the terms of an old will, it is important to make sure the new will does exactly what you want. Discuss your intentions with the professional with whom you rewrite the will to make sure the document accomplishes your goals.

FAQ about revising a will

How much does it cost to revise a will?

The cost of revising a will can vary significantly. Sometimes, revising a will costs thousands of dollars, but this is usually only the case in situations where a person’s estate is especially complex. Many people can revise their will for less than $500, with some low-cost or even free tools available to update a will, depending on the specifics of how it was created and your estate size.

Can I make handwritten changes to my will?

Handwritten changes to a will can be legally binding in some states, but in this digital age, it isn’t recommended to take this approach. Typed text is easier to read and thus harder to misinterpret. Virtually all changes to a will made by a professional won’t be handwritten. 

How often should I update my will?

There isn’t a set answer to this question, as some people never need to update their will. It depends on whether you want to change some aspect of it due to changes in law or personal circumstances. 

If you’re unsure whether updating your will is appropriate, you should at least review the document and relevant rules to make sure it does what you want. As a general rule, a will should be updated any time the laws about inheritance that you’re bound to change, including if you move to a new state or if there has been a major life change that alters what you want your will to accomplish. 

References