Yes, you can update your will online — and for most people, this is the single biggest practical advantage of using a guided online builder over a traditional solicitor will. Updating a will isn't optional; circumstances change, and a will that's ten years old is often actively misleading. This guide explains how online updates work, when an update isn't enough (and you need a new will), and the difference between a fresh will and a codicil.
Why updating your will matters
A will is a snapshot of your circumstances and wishes at the moment you signed it. Life keeps moving:
- A child is born, or comes of age.
- A beneficiary dies before you do.
- An executor moves overseas, falls ill, or simply doesn't want the role any more.
- You marry — which automatically revokes a previous will unless that will was made in expectation of the marriage.
- You divorce — which doesn't revoke the will but treats your former spouse as having predeceased you for the purposes of the will.
- You buy or sell a property.
- You start a business.
- A child has a child of their own.
- Your relationship with a beneficiary changes.
Our when to update your will guide has a fuller list of triggers. The general rule is: review every three to five years and after any major life event.
The traditional way to update — and why people don't
In the solicitor world, updating a will means a new appointment, a fresh consultation, drafting time, a review meeting, and a fresh fee — typically £150-£300 for a simple update. The friction is real, and the result is that millions of UK adults are walking around with wills that don't reflect their current circumstances.
The legal effect of an out-of-date will is often worse than no will at all. A will that names a deceased beneficiary, or leaves the residue to a relationship that's ended, or appoints an executor who can't act, is the kind of document that turns probate into a dispute.
If that's prompting you to act, start (or restart) your will online — it takes 15-30 minutes.
How updating a will online actually works
A good online will builder is designed for re-issuing. Typically:
- Log into your account. Your previous answers are saved.
- Change only what's changed. New executor, new beneficiary, updated address — whatever it is.
- Review the updated draft. The system rebuilds the document from your current answers.
- Generate the new will, including a clear revocation clause that nullifies the previous will.
- Print, sign, and witness it the same way as the original.
- Destroy the old will and tell your executors there's a new version.
The whole process is usually a single sitting of 10-15 minutes. With Trusted Hands' annual updates option (around £12 a year), you can re-issue as often as you need to.
The crucial step: revocation
Whenever you write a new will, you must explicitly revoke the previous one. Every reputable will template includes a clause along the lines of "I revoke all previous wills and testamentary dispositions." Without that, the two wills can sit alongside each other, with anything in the new will adding to (rather than replacing) the old one — a recipe for disputes.
When you re-issue a will online, the new document includes the revocation clause automatically. The physical step is to destroy the old paper original — tear it up, shred it, or burn it. A signed paper original of an old will, if found later, can cause confusion at probate.
When an update isn't enough — codicils versus new wills
There are two ways to change a will legally:
- A codicil — a separate signed and witnessed document that amends a specific part of the will. The codicil itself must comply with the Wills Act 1837 (signed in front of two witnesses).
- A new will — a complete fresh document that revokes the old one.
In modern practice, codicils are rarely used. They're a relic of the era when redrafting an entire will meant retyping it on a typewriter. Today, generating a fresh will from updated answers takes minutes, and a single fresh document is much less prone to interpretation disputes than a will plus a codicil.
We'd recommend re-issuing the will rather than adding a codicil, except for unusual cases where you only want to make a single very specific change. For complex estates, we recommend you seek assistance from a Trusted Hands Advisor or your own legal advice.
What you can update online
A guided builder typically lets you update:
- Executors and substitutes.
- Guardians for minor children.
- Beneficiaries and their shares.
- Specific gifts.
- Funeral wishes.
- Charitable bequests.
- The residual estate.
- Personal details (your address, marital status).
For complex changes — adding a life-interest trust, restructuring around business assets, dealing with foreign property — you may want a specialist solicitor. Most online builders flag the points where bespoke advice is appropriate.
What to do after updating
Three things, in order:
- Sign and witness the new will in front of two adult witnesses (neither of whom can be a beneficiary or married to / in a civil partnership with one).
- Destroy the old paper will.
- Tell your executors there's a new version and where to find it.
The Trusted Hands builder includes printable witnessing instructions and a script your witnesses can follow. See our how to write a will guide for the full signing checklist.
> Already have a will but it's out of date? Re-issue it through Trusted Hands and have a fresh, accurate document by tonight. Update your will → — first issue is free; only pay when you download.
A note on marriage and divorce
Two life events have specific legal effects on wills that catch people out:
- Marriage automatically revokes a previous will, unless the will explicitly says it was made in expectation of that specific marriage to that specific person. If you wrote a will in your twenties and married in your thirties, your old will is gone. Write a new one promptly.
- Divorce doesn't revoke the will, but treats your former spouse as having died on the date of the divorce for the purposes of the will. Any gift to them, and any executor appointment of them, fails. The rest of the will stands. Even so, almost everyone wants to write a fresh will after divorce — see our will after divorce guide.
> Ready to start your will? Trusted Hands turns these decisions into a 15-30 minute guided builder. Start free → — only pay when you download.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to update my will every year?
No, but reviewing it every three to five years is sensible, and updating it after a life event is essential. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary or executor, buying a house, starting a business — any of these is a trigger.
What's the difference between a will and a codicil?
A codicil amends a specific part of an existing will. A new will revokes the old one entirely. In modern practice, fresh wills are almost always preferable.
Does updating online cost as much as a new will?
With a good provider, no. Many include an annual updates option for a small subscription. Some let you re-issue free for an initial period. Solicitor updates typically cost £150-£300 each.
Will my old will still be valid if I lose the new one?
Only if your old will hasn't been physically destroyed and if there's no clear evidence that the new will revoked it. The safest approach is: when you produce a new will, destroy the old paper original.
Can I update my will after I've started losing capacity?
Capacity is judged at the moment of signing. If there's any doubt, get a contemporaneous capacity assessment from a GP or specialist before signing. This is one of the situations where solicitor involvement is worth the cost.
Ready to write your will?
Trusted Hands is a guided, plain-English will builder. You answer simple questions, see your draft as you go, and only pay when you're ready to download.
- Free to start — no card details to begin
- Smart Will Engine — only asks what's relevant to your situation
- Fixed price — no hourly bills, no surprises
- Annual updates option — keep your will editable as life changes