What is a codicil to a will in Australia, and when should you use one instead of rewriting your will?
A codicil is an amendment sheet to your existing Will. It needs the same formalities: it must be signed in front of two witnesses. Codicils suit very small changes, but they are falling out of favour, because having several documents floating around raises the risk that one gets lost or overlooked after you die. For most Australians it is now just as quick to rewrite your Will online, which keeps everything in one clear, up-to-date document and avoids that risk.
For related guidance, see what is the difference between joint tenancy and tenants in common in Australia?.
Read the video transcript
A codicil is essentially an amendment sheet to your existing Will. It requires the exact same formalities as a Will, i.e. it needs to be signed in the presence of two witnesses. Whilst codicils may make sense for small changes, they're heavily falling out of favour. This is because multiple documents floating around increases the risk that one document might get lost or overlooked after you pass away. It's often easier just to rewrite your Will, either online or by amending an existing Will through your solicitor, than just having a codicil. For most Australians, rewriting your Will is often as quick and convenient and reduces the risks of issues arising after you pass away.
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