Re: [Openfirst-debug] Codicil Fact Sheet

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DocProfiles Codicil Fact Sheet
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The Fact Sheet




What is a Codicil?


A Codicil is a document that amends, rather than replaces, a previously executed Will. 


So what can a Codicil do?


Amendments made by a Codicil may only add or revoke a few small provisions of a properly executed Will. There is a point where you should not try to amend a Will by Codicil but rather tear up the Will and re-write it. 


You may add or revoke a gift, if for example, an item is sold or destroyed in your lifetime. 


You may usually change the age at which beneficiaries can take their gifts. 


You may make any reasonably small alteration you deem necessary so things such as new directions to a particular item such as a safe deposit box or the address of real estate purchased after the Will you are amending was executed.


What should a Codicil not be used for?


The list is pretty extensive so we will talk in generalities here. Any major alteration to a Will should really be handled by destroying the Will and starting afresh. 
Here is a list - it is not exhaustive:




Changes to any trust deed or testamentary trust 
Alterations to the bulk of the dispositions 
Major changes to the line up of beneficiaries 
If all or most of the gifts have been altered, destroyed or sold in your lifetime 
If, on inspection, the Codicil will create any ambiguity 
If you are at all uncomfortable about what you are doing




The Technicalities


Each codicil must conform to the same legal requirements as the original Will, such as the signatures of the testator and two or three disinterested witnesses depending upon your state, province or country of residence.


There are other requirements specific to Codicils such as a precise reference to the Will being amended.


But it is essential that a witness to the execution of the codicil is not a beneficiary of the Will that is being changed or of the changes in the Codicil.


The Codicil must also make reference in very specific terms to the Will it is amending.


So what happens when a Codicil is produced along with a Will? 


When confronted with a testamentary document that was executed after the date of the original Will, a probate court may need to decipher whether the document is a Codicil, or a new Will. Generally, if the second document does not make a complete disposition of the testator's property, it will be presumed to be a Codicil. A prudent testator will avoid this problem by clearly labelling the document. 


How do our Codicil Kits and forms avoid these problems? 


We have offer two types of Codicil Template. 
In each you must make reference to your existing will and identify it clearly as you work on the Codicil Template. We also ensure that if there is already a Will and a Codicil to that Will in existence, that it is also similarly referenced. So if you have already amended your Will once you use one of our Codicil Forms identifying this Codicil as your second Codicil.
As stated above we offer two types of Codicils


Our Codicils come in two types


The first type of Codicil deals with situations where you might simply want to make some additions to your Will such as adding a new item to the list of the estate, a new beneficiary when for example a child is born or correcting any number of oversights in the original document.
The second type is useful in situations where changes must be made such as the replacement of nominated, trustees, executors, personal representatives, guardians etc. Because of the need for clarity these forms are drafted to clearly revoke the original appointments and then replace them with new ones.
Exactly the same situation arises with gifts which must be altered to accommodate changing circumstances. The most common situation is that during your lifetime you move house but your Will still refers specifically to a property at 15 Smith Street even though you no longer live there or own it. The intention will always have been to leave the named beneficiary a house but the gift has a good chance of failing because the wrong property is now identified. Again the original gift needs to be revoked and a new one made to carry out what is intended. We provide a form that will accomplish this. 
We include worked examples of Codicils and full instructions about how to fill out and obey the formal requirements of a Codicil.


We do not tell you what to do, just how to do it.


Click here to access our kits and forms. 


Other than a Codicil, the only other way to modify a Will is to write a new properly executed one and revoke all previous Wills. 


What is a properly executed Will?


A properly executed Will must at least conform with the following checklist which appears in all our Will and Codicil Kits. We reproduce it here for your information.


HOW TO HAVE YOUR WILL/CODICIL WITNESSED AND SIGNED. 


1. You should review your WILL/CODICIL in the presence of your 2 or 3 witnesses. All witnesses must see you sign your WILL/CODICIL, and also need to see each other sign as witnesses. This requires you and your witnesses to be present at the same time. It is best that all three of you use the same pen in order to reinforce that you were together at the same time. 


2. In front of them, you need to sign (not initial!) each page, at the end of the writing on that page, using your normal signature. 


3. Then go to the Attestation template. Sign and date your WILL/CODICIL using the current date. 


4. After you have signed and dated your WILL/CODICIL, the first witness must then sign. They must sign (not initial) at the end of the writing on each page and then on the Attestation template. Your witness should view every page so that they can confirm, if asked, that there were no changes made when you signed your WILL. They do not, however, need to specifically read the WILL/CODICIL or know what it says. 


5. The second witness then follows this same procedure and so on if there is a third. The witnesses should include their full names, occupations and addresses when signing so they can be located in the future if it becomes necessary for them to verify that you signed the WILL/CODICIL. 


6. You should confirm that each witness has signed where required. Do this while they are all still in the same room. 


7. Finally, make sure all pages of your WILL/CODICIL are stapled together and numbered. 




Our Catalogue of Legal Kits and Forms. 


We hope you have found this free Fact Sheet useful. You may now wish to write your own Codicil.


Our codicil Kits


Our Codicil Kit provides all the forms you need to alter your existing Will and is designed to guide you through the steps, simply and clearly. 


While we appreciate that legal papers are important and powerful documents and need to be completed correctly, we also believe that they don't have to be confusing and difficult to understand.
All our legal Kits are affordable, easy to follow & complete and contain simple instructions and explanations. 
Each kit contains:


A clear set of definitions 
An explanation of how Codicils work 
Sufficient templates to allow for a first and second Codicil 
Worked examples of Codicils 
Sample clauses for common situations solved by Codicils 
Fully worked examples with instructions on how a Codicil should be signed and witnessed 
Fully formatted templates for your and your witnesses' signatures 
Provision for notarization in jurisdictions where this is required 


To view our range of Kits and Forms or make a purchase, simply click here. http://www.docprofiles.com/buyacodicil.html


We trust you will find this helpful in planning your future.