Making a will is important. Keeping it up to date is just as important.
60% of will holders in the UK haven't updated their will in over five years. During those five years, they may have married, divorced, had children, bought property, lost a beneficiary, or seen their finances change dramatically.
An outdated will can be as problematic as no will at all. If your will doesn't reflect your current circumstances, it could distribute your estate in ways you'd never want.
Here's when you need to update, how to do it, and why CheapWills makes it simple at £9.99.
Life Events That Should Trigger a Will Update
Marriage
This is the most important one. Getting married automatically revokes your existing will in England and Wales. Your old will becomes invalid the moment you say "I do."
If you die after getting married without making a new will, you die intestate. Your estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules, not your previous will.
Action required: Make a new will as soon as possible after getting married. If your will already says "in contemplation of marriage to [specific person]," it may survive — but this is unusual outside solicitor-drafted wills. Don't risk it.
Divorce
Divorce does not revoke your will (unlike marriage). However, it does affect provisions relating to your ex-spouse:
- Your ex-spouse is treated as if they've died before you for the purposes of your will
- They can no longer act as executor
- Any gifts to them fail
This means the residuary clause kicks in, which may or may not produce the outcome you want. If your ex-spouse was your main beneficiary, your estate may end up going to people you didn't intend.
Action required: Make a new will after divorce to ensure your estate goes where you want it.
Birth or Adoption of a Child
A new child changes everything. You need to:
- Name guardians for the new child
- Update inheritance provisions
- Consider whether existing trust arrangements need adjusting
- Decide whether to divide assets equally among all children
Action required: Update your will to include the new child. Existing children remain covered, but the new child should be specifically mentioned.
Death of a Beneficiary
If someone named in your will dies before you, their gift typically fails (unless your will specifies it passes to their children). This can create unintended consequences if you don't update.
Action required: Review your will and redirect the deceased beneficiary's share to someone else.
Death of an Executor or Guardian
If your named executor or guardian dies, you need replacements. An estate without a willing executor causes delays and additional costs.
Action required: Name new executors or guardians.
Buying or Selling Property
A major change in your asset base — especially property — may affect how you want to distribute your estate.
Action required: Review whether your current provisions still make sense given your new financial situation.
Significant Change in Finances
Inheritance, redundancy, business success, retirement — any major financial change should prompt a will review.
Action required: Check that your will reflects your current estate value and any new assets or liabilities.
Relationship Changes
Starting a new relationship, moving in together, or becoming estranged from a family member may change who you want to benefit.
Action required for cohabiting partners: If you've moved in with a new partner but aren't married, they have no automatic inheritance rights. A will is essential.
Moving Abroad or Buying Property Abroad
A will made in England and Wales may not cover assets in other countries. International succession law is complex.
Action required: Consult a solicitor with international expertise if you own property abroad or move to another country.
How Often Should You Review Your Will?
Even without a specific life event, review your will every three to five years. Circumstances change gradually — asset values shift, relationships evolve, and your wishes may change.
The best approach: set a calendar reminder to read through your will once a year. If nothing's changed, no action needed. If something has, update it.
With CheapWills at £9.99 per will, updating is cheap enough that there's no reason to put it off.
How to Update Your Will
You have two options: a codicil or a new will.
Option 1: Codicil (Minor Changes)
A codicil is a separate legal document that amends specific parts of your will without replacing the whole thing.
When to use a codicil:
- Changing a single specific gift
- Updating an executor or guardian name
- Correcting a minor error
Rules for a codicil:
- Must be in writing
- Must be signed and witnessed with the same formality as the original will (two witnesses, both present)
- Must clearly reference which will it amends
- Attached to (but not stapled to) the original will
Pros: Quick for minor changes
Cons: Can cause confusion, especially if there are multiple codicils. The original will and all codicils must be read together. Lost codicils can invalidate amendments.
Option 2: New Will (Recommended for Most Changes)
For anything more than a trivial change, making an entirely new will is simpler and safer. A new will includes a standard clause revoking all previous wills, which means a clean slate.
When to make a new will:
- Any change to the main beneficiary
- Marriage or divorce
- Adding or removing beneficiaries
- Changing guardians or executors
- Multiple changes at once
- Any doubt about whether a codicil would be clear enough
After making a new will:
- Destroy the old will — tear it up, shred it, or burn it
- Destroy any codicils to the old will
- This prevents confusion and the old will being accidentally used
At CheapWills, making a new will takes 10 minutes and costs £9.99.
Update Costs Compared
| Provider | Update Cost | Method |
|---|---|---|
| CheapWills | £9.99 each time | New will each time |
| FreeWills | Free | New will |
| Farewill | £10/yr | New will |
| LegalWills | Free (unlimited) | New will |
| Co-op Legal | Per revision | Amendment or new will |
| Solicitors | £300+ per change | Codicil or new will |
Over 10 years:
- CheapWills: £49.90
- Farewill: £100
- Solicitor (two updates): £600+
The Marriage Trap
This deserves its own section because it catches so many people out.
Marriage automatically revokes your will in England and Wales.
This means:
- If you made a will before getting married, that will is now invalid
- You need to make a new will after the wedding
- If you die married without a new will, intestacy rules apply
It doesn't matter what your old will said. It doesn't matter how recently you made it. Marriage wipes it.
The exception: A will made "in contemplation of marriage" to a specific person can survive marriage. But this requires specific legal wording that most online wills and DIY wills don't include. Don't assume yours does — check.
Civil partnership has the same effect as marriage. Entering a civil partnership revokes your will.
Divorce does NOT revoke your will — it only affects provisions relating to your ex-spouse.
Don't Just Update — Store It Properly
After making a new will:
- Print the new will on A4 paper
- Sign and witness it following the proper procedure
- Destroy the old will completely (shred, burn, or tear into small pieces)
- Destroy any codicils to the old will
- Store the new will in the same place (or update your executors if the location has changed)
- Tell your executors that you've made a new will and where to find it
The worst outcome: making a new will but leaving the old one intact. If both are found after your death, it can cause confusion and potential legal disputes — even though the new will should revoke the old one by its terms.
What Happens If You Don't Update?
Here are some real consequences of outdated wills:
The Ex Who Inherits
David divorced Sarah in 2020 but never updated his 2018 will. When he died in 2025, his will named Sarah as the primary beneficiary. Under the law, Sarah was treated as having predeceased David — which meant his estate fell through to the residuary clause, which named his parents. His new partner of four years received nothing.
The Guardian Who Can't
Michelle named her sister as guardian for her children in 2015. By 2024, her sister had developed a serious illness and couldn't take on two children. Michelle never updated the guardian nomination. When Michelle died, the court had to find an alternative — delaying the process and causing stress for the children during an already devastating time.
The Missing Beneficiary
Robert's will left £10,000 to his friend Tom. Tom died in 2022. Robert never updated his will. When Robert died in 2025, the £10,000 gift to Tom failed. It fell into the residuary estate rather than going to Tom's wife, which was what Robert would have wanted.
Updating Your Will with CheapWills
CheapWills charges £9.99 every time you make or update a will. Log in, update your answers, pay £9.99, and download a fresh PDF. Each update generates a completely new will document (not a codicil), which is cleaner and simpler.
How it works:
- Log in to your CheapWills account
- Make the changes to your questionnaire answers
- We generate a new will from the updated answers
- Download the new PDF
- Print, sign, witness, and store as before
- Destroy the old will
No appointment needed. No extra fees. Takes 10 minutes.
Compare the costs:
- CheapWills update: £9.99
- Farewill update: £10/year
- Solicitor update: £300+ each time
Over a decade, with two major updates, CheapWills saves you £580+ compared to a solicitor.
A Simple Update Schedule
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| After marriage | Make a new will immediately (old one is revoked) |
| After divorce | Make a new will to reflect new circumstances |
| After birth/adoption | Update to include new child, name guardians |
| After a bereavement | Update to redirect gifts and replace named people |
| After buying property | Review and update if needed |
| Every 3–5 years | Read through your will — update if anything's changed |
| Annually | Quick sense-check — is everything still correct? |
Make your will today for £9.99 — same price when you need to update it.
Join the Waitlist — Wills from £9.99Frequently Asked Questions
Does marriage revoke a will?
Yes. Getting married automatically revokes any existing will in England and Wales. You must make a new will after marriage. Civil partnership has the same effect.
Does divorce revoke a will?
No. Divorce doesn't revoke your will, but your ex-spouse is treated as having predeceased you for the purposes of the will. You should still make a new will after divorce to ensure your estate is distributed as you want.
How often should I update my will?
Whenever a major life event occurs (marriage, divorce, children, bereavement, property purchase) and at least every 3–5 years as a routine review.
Should I use a codicil or make a new will?
For most changes, a new will is simpler and safer. Codicils are only appropriate for very minor amendments. A new will from CheapWills costs £9.99.
What should I do with my old will?
Destroy it. Shred it, burn it, or tear it into small pieces. A new will revokes old wills by its terms, but physically destroying the old one prevents any confusion or disputes.
How much does it cost to update a will?
CheapWills charges £9.99 each time you make or update a will. Solicitors typically charge £300+ per revision. Farewill charges £90.