If you want to update a will, you can get in touch with our UK notary members. They can provide you with proper guidelines about updating a will and other notary procedures. They can also answer your concerns such as if you can just write a will and get it notarized or not.
| Short Facts | |
| Types of wills available in the UK | – single, – living, – complex, – property trust wills, etc. |
| Legal age to make a will in the UK | 18 years old |
| Notarization of a will in the UK | With the help of our notary specialists, once the will is created. |
| Reasons to change/update a will | – remarriage, – a grandchild’s birth, – divorce, – inheritance, etc. |
| Procedure to update a will | A new document is created with information about the changes to the testament. |
| Recommendations | A testament should be made in writing. |
| When to create a new will | If the current one is no longer available, or if additional changes necessitate a new one. |
| What is a codicil? | An official alteration/new document stating will updates/modifications. |
| Responsibilities of a notary in a will update | Makes sure the person understands the updates and that it is in full mental capacity to sign the new documents. |
| 2 witnesses required when | Signing a will update/codicil |
| Do witnesses sign the will? (YES/NO) | YES |
| Notarization of an updated will | Not imposed |
| Destroying the former testament | When a new one is created |
| Representation with a power of attorney when making/updating a will (YES/NO) | YES |
| Choosing our notary in the UK | For: – legalization/translation/notarization of will and other documents, at affordable prices. |
Table of Contents
Types of wills available in the UK
If you are interested in a will and want to notarize it so that it can be used correctly from a legal point of view, we invite you to review some of the most sought-after and popular such documents:
- Single will - is the simplest and most practical type of will, where a person can establish how their assets will be distributed after death. People who have children from previous marriages are often the ones who prefer to register such a document.
- Mirror will - Often the option of couples, this is a joint will where the partners can set how their assets will be distributed in the event of an unpleasant event.
- Discretionary will - It is drawn up with a trustee, a person with authority and who can decide how the assets in the family are distributed, in the event of a death.
- Property trust will – This legal document empowers a person to benefit from a property while preserving it for other beneficiaries. This will is normally recommended for granting a spouse to continue living in a property while eventually leaving it to the children.
- Living will - It is also called "Advance Decision" and allows a person to make legal choices about their health and care while he/she is still able to do so. In most cases, such a will can imply the decision not to resuscitate in special circumstances.
- Flexible life interest - It is a type of trust where assets can be managed by a trustee who has the legal power to adjust them to the distribution of beneficiaries, respectively deciding when and how this is done.
Considering these types of wills available in the UK, we invite you to notarize such documents in our notary in London. Our specialists can also guide you in situations where you need to update your will, if your family situation has changed, or if circumstances are such that a change is still necessary.
When do you need to update a will?
There will occasionally be changes in the law that could influence your estate as well as changes in your life that could affect or nullify your will. If you make a will, for instance, it will no longer be legitimate if you get married unless it was particularly created with the marriage in sight. The amount you can leave to your loved ones may change as a result of amendments to inheritance tax laws or other regulations. Reviewing your will and making any necessary changes is advised if any of the following situations arise:
- a child or grandchild's birth;
- acquiring a residence or other property;
- marriage;
- inheriting cash or other resources;
- divorce or separation;
- remarriage;
- home or other property being sold;
- the death of a person who is mentioned in your will, including executors and guardians.
Any of these circumstances might affect your will. For instance, receiving a financial inheritance may result in a higher inheritance tax burden for your estate. By having a new will created more appropriately to address your position, there may be an opportunity to properly lower the tax burden. You are welcome to consult with our notary public in London regarding how wills can affect your circumstances and when you need to update a will. They can guide you in detail in this matter.
Cost to update a will
The cost to update a will is typically the same as the price to prepare the will itself, which ranges from £300 to £500, if you prepare it with the help of an attorney or professional will writer. No lawyer will ever alter a clause in a will that was not originally authored by him/her. A will is typically thoroughly reviewed after an update to ensure that it still accurately reflects your position.
Occasionally, lawyers will charge a minimum fee and charge per alteration. For instance, even if the modifications are minor, £100 per change (like changing the name of the executor). If you need to know the cost of updating a will, you can interact with the members located at our notary public in London.
Notarization of a will
If the necessary circumstances are satisfied, we may notarize a will, whether it was created by an attorney or not. To notarize a will, the following circumstances must be met:
- to execute the will, the signer (testator) must be present and legally capable;
- the signer must be someone you directly know or present valid state-issued identification;
- the signer must fully understand what is in the will and what is being signed, in addition to being competent and of sound mind.
Notarization of a will is not required by all states. Clients can, however, utilize a notarized self-proving affidavit to make it simpler for their will to pass probate, which is the process of officially proving a will after death. While notarizing a will, our UK notary uses caution. Unlawfully written wills that have been notarized may be contested in court and found to be invalid. To avoid all this hassle in the future, our notary members notarize a will by taking necessary precautions.
If you want to notarize a will in Canary Wharf or you need any other notary services, you can get in touch with our members. The experts at our notary in Canary Wharf can provide you with assistance in notary-related matters. The Hague Convention outlines the procedures by which a document issued in one of the signatory states may be certified for use in all other signatory states for legal purposes.
In other words, the Hague Convention establishes the standards for such and grants international legal papers in other member nations legitimacy and efficacy separate from their domestic laws. If you want information regarding if your country is a signatory to the Hague Convention or not, get in touch with our notary public in Canary Wharf.
Statistics on wills in the UK
Here are some statistics on the state of wills in the UK, reported for the year 2024:
- Over 50% of the UK population has a registered will. Of this total, around 57% are men who have drawn up this document.
- Around 41% of those who have a will are young people between the ages of 18 and 24.
- Over 57% of wills registered in the UK are held in London.
If you are looking for any legal services in the UK (like updating a will or notarizing a will), you can contact our notary members. They can guide you comprehensively about when notarization is needed for a will. You can ask about the cost to update a will from our notary members, so that you can have an idea about fees before starting the process.
