What is a codicil?

A codicil is a legal document used to make changes to an existing will. It is often used as an alternative to a completely rewriting a will. In Washington, a codicil must meet the same formal requirements as a will, such as being signed in the presence of two witnesses. Furthermore, the codicil must be validly executed in accordance with Washington probate law. In most cases, the codicil is used to make minor changes to a will such as changing a name or address. It can also be used to add or delete certain gifts that have been made in the will. Generally, any valid changes that can be made to a will can be made in a codicil. Any changes made by a codicil must be consistent with the original intent of the will. This means that if a change conflicts with the terms of the will, then the court may decide that the change is not valid. In this case, the codicil may be deemed to be obsolete or invalid. When a codicil is made, it is important to keep it with the original will for the sake of having all changes in one document. It is also important to ensure that the witnesses to the codicil are also the same witnesses who signed the original will. This helps ensure that the codicil is valid and properly enforced.

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