Once a will has been written, it is ideal to give the designated executor a copy for safe keeping. This will help to make sure the will can be found upon the testator’s death. Also, giving a copy to another person is helpful to keep in mind that the testator should not make any changes to the will documents. Even minor changes to the language of the will should be completely avoided to protect against confusion and potential disputes at the time of the will’s execution.
If the testator desires to make any substantial changes to the will, it is generally advisable that a new will be written revoking all previous wills of the testator. If the testator desires to make minor adjustments to the will, a codicil may be used. A codicil acts as an amendment to the will that can be incorporated into the original will to effect changes. Codicils can still create risks of dispute as those who may be ill effected by the codicil may try to object to the codicil’s legitimacy, while redrafting a new will leaves any previous intentions of the testator off the public record.
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