What is a will codicil?
A will codicil is a written document that is used to make changes or additions to an existing will. A codicil is a document that must be executed with the same formalities as a will, which means it must be signed in the presence of two witnesses and a notary public. In South Carolina, codicils can be used to revoke or modify any part of a will, except for the appointment of a guardian. Codicils can be used to change the beneficiaries of a will, add new people, take people out, or change the amount of gifts or legacies that people will receive. It can also be used to change the executor of the will and any guardians that have been appointed. A will codicil is only valid after it has been admitted to probate. If a testator, or the person making a will, has more than one codicil, they must all be admitted to probate together. This means that the testator should only execute as many codicils as are necessary to make all of the desired changes, since the court may not admit more than one codicil. When making changes to an existing will using a codicil, it is important to make sure that the language used is consistent with that of the original will. This will ensure that the meaning of the will is not changed or misconstrued. It is also important to verify with the court that all codicils have been admitted before any changes take effect.
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