# Free Codicil to a Will Template – How to Amend Your Will

- Link: https://clearlegaltips.com/free-codicil-to-a-will-template-amend-your-will-2026/
- Published: 2026-06-01T09:00:52-04:00
- Author: ClearLegalTips

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## Download This Resource

Get the fillable document, the editable version, and an action checklist:

[📄Fillable PDFPrint & complete](https://clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/codicil-template-document.pdf)
[📝Editable DOCXFill in your details](https://clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/codicil-template-document.docx)
[✅Action ChecklistStep-by-step PDF](https://clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/codicil-template-checklist-1.pdf)

**The short version (2026):**

 * **A codicil is a short, formal amendment to your existing will.** It must be 
   signed with the same formalities as the will itself: In nearly every state, that
   means two witnesses.
 * **Use it for one or two small changes** (a new executor, one added gift). A divorce,
   a new child, or a pile of changes calls for a new will instead.
 * **Copy the free template below**, reference the exact article of your will you
   are changing, and never let a beneficiary act as a witness.
 * **Know the republication trap:** Signing a codicil re-dates your whole will, 
   which can accidentally cut off a child born after the original will was signed.

## Update Your Will Without Rewriting It

Your will from a few years ago still mostly holds up, but one thing has changed.
Maybe you welcomed a grandchild, sold the lake house, or lost touch with the cousin
you named as executor. You don’t need to tear up the whole document and start over.
You need a codicil: A short, legally recognized amendment that updates specific 
parts of your existing will while leaving everything else intact.

![Amending a will with a codicil instead of rewriting it](https://i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.
com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-2866-06-amend-your-will.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

Below you’ll find a free, copy-and-paste codicil template (plus Word and PDF downloads),
plain-English signing instructions, and the witnessing rules that actually make 
it valid in your state. Used correctly, a codicil costs nothing and takes about 
fifteen minutes. Used carelessly, it can quietly undo part of the plan you meant
to protect, so this guide also covers the traps.

## What Is a Codicil?

![What is a codicil to a will explained in plain English](https://i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.
com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-01-what-is-a-codicil.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

A [codicil](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/codicil) is a separate legal document
that modifies, adds to, or revokes part of an existing will. It doesn’t replace 
your will; it rides alongside it. When you die, the probate court (the court that
carries out wills) reads the original will and the codicil together as one combined
set of instructions, with the codicil controlling anywhere the two conflict.

Because a codicil changes who gets what, the law treats it with the same seriousness
as the will itself. It generally must be signed and witnessed using the same formalities
your state requires for a will. A note in the margin of your will or a marked-up
photocopy won’t survive a challenge, and it can cast doubt on provisions you never
meant to touch.

**Key concept: Republication.** A valid codicil “republishes” your will, which is
the legal way of saying the law now treats your will as if it were re-signed on 
the day you executed the codicil. That sounds harmless, and often it helps, because
it confirms the will still reflects your wishes. But re-dating your will can have
side effects nobody warns you about. There’s a [full section on this trap](https://clearlegaltips.com/free-codicil-to-a-will-template-amend-your-will-2026/#republication-trap)
below, because it’s the part of codicil law most likely to hurt a family.

You can also undo a codicil later: Deliberately destroy it, sign a later codicil
that revokes it, or sign a new will. Revoking the underlying will generally revokes
its codicils along with it.

## Codicil or New Will? How to Decide

![When to use a codicil versus writing a new will](https://i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.
com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-02-codicil-vs-new-will.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

Big life changes sometimes move your estate across a state tax threshold too; the
current lines are in our [estate tax by state](https://clearlegaltips.com/estate-tax-by-state/)
table.

Codicils shine for small, surgical changes. They’re a poor fit for major overhauls.
Here’s how to tell the difference.

### A codicil makes sense when you want to:

 * Change your executor, or name a backup executor
 * Add or remove one specific gift (“I leave my grandmother’s ring to my niece, 
   Hannah”)
 * Update a beneficiary’s legal name after a marriage or divorce
 * Adjust a dollar amount or percentage left to someone
 * Name a new guardian for a minor child
 * Correct a typo or an outdated address

### Write a new will instead when you’re facing:

 * A divorce or remarriage that reshapes your whole plan
 * The birth or adoption of a child who isn’t mentioned anywhere (see the [republication trap](https://clearlegaltips.com/free-codicil-to-a-will-template-amend-your-will-2026/#republication-trap)
   before you touch a codicil in this situation)
 * A large change in assets, like selling a business or receiving an inheritance
 * More than two or three separate amendments piling up
 * A move to a new state with different probate rules

The reason is practical: Multiple codicils stacked on an old will create a confusing
paper trail. Each amendment is one more document a probate court must locate, authenticate,
and reconcile, and probate delays cost real money (our [probate cost estimator](https://clearlegaltips.com/probate-cost-estimator/)
shows how quickly fees add up). When the changes get big or numerous, a clean new
will that revokes all prior wills and codicils is safer and easier for your family
to administer. If you’re starting fresh, our [free last will and testament template](https://clearlegaltips.com/free-last-will-and-testament-template/)
walks through the whole document.

**One distinction that trips people up:** A codicil amends a _will_. If your estate
plan is built around a revocable living trust, you update it with a trust amendment
instead, which has its own rules; see our [living trust amendment template](https://clearlegaltips.com/living-trust-amendment-template-2026/).
And if you’re weighing whether to move from a will to a trust entirely, start with
our [living trust vs. will cost breakdown](https://clearlegaltips.com/living-trust-vs-will-cost-breakdown-diy-vs-attorney/).

## Free Codicil Template (Copy and Paste)

![Free codicil to a will template with all required sections](https://i0.wp.com/
clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-03-codicil-template-sections.
jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

Replace every bracketed item with your own information, delete the amendment blocks
you don’t use, and read the signing instructions in the next section before anyone
picks up a pen. The downloadable versions above match this text.

**FIRST CODICIL TO THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF [FULL LEGAL NAME]**

I, **[FULL LEGAL NAME]**, a resident of [CITY], [COUNTY] County, [STATE], being 
of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence, declare this to be the**
First Codicil** to my Last Will and Testament dated **[DATE OF ORIGINAL WILL]** (
my “Will”).

**ARTICLE I. PURPOSE.** This Codicil amends my Will only as stated below. _[Use 
the amendment blocks you need in Articles II through IV and delete the rest, renumbering
as needed.]_

**ARTICLE II. REVOCATION OF A PROVISION.** I revoke [Article/Paragraph ___] of my
Will in its entirety.

**ARTICLE III. REPLACEMENT OF A PROVISION.** I revoke [Article/Paragraph ___] of
my Will in its entirety and replace it with the following: “[NEW PROVISION TEXT,
WRITTEN OUT IN FULL].”

**ARTICLE IV. ADDITION OF A NEW PROVISION.** I add the following new provision to
my Will as [Article/Paragraph ___]: “[NEW PROVISION TEXT, WRITTEN OUT IN FULL].”

**ARTICLE V. REPUBLICATION.** Except as amended by this Codicil, I ratify, confirm,
and republish my Will in all respects, and my Will and this Codicil shall be read
together as one instrument.

**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, I sign this Codicil on [DATE], at [CITY], [STATE].

______________________________
 [FULL LEGAL NAME], Testator

**ATTESTATION OF WITNESSES.** On the date written above, [FULL LEGAL NAME] declared
to us that this document is a Codicil to [his/her/their] Last Will and Testament
and signed it in our presence. At [his/her/their] request, in [his/her/their] presence,
and in the presence of each other, we sign our names below as witnesses. Each of
us is an adult, believes the testator to be of sound mind and acting freely, and
receives no gift under the Will or this Codicil.

Witness 1: __________________ (signature)   [PRINTED NAME], [ADDRESS], [DATE]

Witness 2: __________________ (signature)   [PRINTED NAME], [ADDRESS], [DATE]

_[Optional but recommended in most states: attach your state’s self-proving affidavit
and sign it with both witnesses before a notary. See the state table below; California
uses the attestation clause instead.]_

**Before you fill it in:** Use full legal names everywhere, quote the exact article
or paragraph numbers from your will, and write “Second Codicil” or “Third Codicil”
if you’ve amended before. If a child has been born or adopted since you signed your
will, stop and read the republication section first.

## How to Fill Out and Sign Your Codicil (Step by Step)

![How to sign and witness a codicil correctly step by step](https://i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.
com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-04-how-to-sign-codicil.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

The signing ceremony is where most do-it-yourself codicils succeed or fail. Follow
these steps in order.

### Step 1: Pull Out Your Original Will

You’ll need its exact execution date and the article or paragraph numbers you intend
to change. Read the sections you’re amending so your new language fits the will’s
existing structure and defined terms.

### Step 2: Write Each Change Precisely

Reference the provision, then state the change. For example: “I revoke Article IV,
Paragraph 2 of my Will in its entirety and replace it with the following: I give
my 2019 Toyota Highlander to my son, Daniel Reyes.” Avoid vague phrases like “most
of my savings”; courts can’t enforce what they can’t measure.

### Step 3: Leave Everything Else Alone

Don’t restate provisions you’re not changing. The republication clause already keeps
them alive. Re-typing them only creates opportunities for inconsistency.

### Step 4: Sign in Front of Two Witnesses

Nearly every state requires two witnesses who watch you sign (or hear you acknowledge
your signature) and then sign themselves. Some states add their own wrinkles: In
California both witnesses must be present at the same moment and must sign during
your lifetime, in Florida you and both witnesses sign in one another’s presence,
and in New York both witnesses must sign within a single 30-day window. The safest
ceremony everywhere: Everyone in one room, phones down, all signatures in one sitting.

### Step 5: Make It Self-Proving Where Your State Uses That

In most states you can attach a self-proving affidavit: A short notarized statement,
signed by you and both witnesses, swearing the ceremony was done correctly. It isn’t
required for validity, but it lets the court accept the codicil without tracking
down your witnesses years later. California is the notable exception: It doesn’t
use notarized self-proving affidavits, because a signed attestation clause (the 
paragraph above the witness signatures) plus one witness’s later affidavit does 
the same job under Probate Code §8220.

### Step 6: Store the Codicil With the Will

Physically keep the codicil with the original will, and tell your executor where
both live. A codicil nobody can find does nothing. While you have the file open,
it’s a good moment to confirm your other documents are current too, starting with
your [medical power of attorney and healthcare directive](https://clearlegaltips.com/medical-power-of-attorney-and-healthcare-directive-template/).

## Who Can Witness a Codicil?

![Who can legally witness a codicil and interested witness rules by state](https://
i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-2866-07-who-can-
witness.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

Any competent adult generally qualifies (Texas allows witnesses as young as 14).
The person who matters is the one you should _not_ use: Anyone who inherits under
the will or codicil, called an “interested witness.” What happens if a beneficiary
witnesses anyway varies more by state than almost any other codicil rule:

  |  State |  If a beneficiary acts as a witness |  Statute |  
   |  New York |  The gift to that witness is void unless two other disinterested witnesses also signed. The witness keeps at most what they’d inherit if there were no will. |  [EPTL §3-3.2](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EPT/3-3.2) |  
 |  California |  The law presumes the witness procured the gift by duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence. If they can’t rebut that, the gift is capped at their intestate share. |  [Prob. Code §6112](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB&sectionNum=6112.) |  
 |  Florida |  No penalty. A will or codicil is not invalid because an interested witness signed it. |  [Fla. Stat. §732.504](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0732/Sections/0732.504.html) |

The rule of thumb that works in all 50 states: Pick two adults who get nothing under
the will or codicil and aren’t married to anyone who does. Neighbors, coworkers,
or friends are ideal. Even in Florida, where the statute forgives it, an interested
witness hands a will contest its opening argument.

## State Codicil Signing Requirements (2026)

![Codicil witness and notary requirements by state 2026 table](https://i0.wp.com/
clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-2866-08-state-signing-rules.
jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

Codicils follow your state’s rules for executing a will. Here are the four most-
searched states, verified against the statutes in mid-2026, plus the general rule
everywhere else. A “holographic” codicil means one written entirely in your own 
handwriting.

  |  State |  Witnesses |  Holographic codicil? |  Notary needed? |  Statute |  
   |  California |  2, both present at the same time when you sign or acknowledge; they must sign during your lifetime |  Yes. Valid if the signature and material provisions are in your handwriting, no witnesses needed |  No. A signed attestation clause covers later proof; California doesn’t use notarized self-proving affidavits |  [Prob. Code §6110](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB&sectionNum=6110.) |  
 |  Texas |  2 or more credible witnesses, age 14+, who sign in your presence |  Yes, if written wholly in your handwriting |  No. Optional self-proving affidavit before a notary speeds probate |  [Estates Code ch. 251](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ES/htm/ES.251.htm) |  
 |  New York |  2. You sign at the end, declare the document is your codicil, and both witnesses sign within one 30-day period |  No for civilians (narrow exceptions for active-duty military and mariners at sea) |  No. Witness affidavits are commonly added but not required |  [EPTL §3-2.1](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EPT/3-2.1) |  
 |  Florida |  2. You sign at the end (or acknowledge your signature), and you and both witnesses sign in one another’s presence |  No. Unwitnessed handwritten codicils are invalid |  Notary only for the optional self-proving affidavit under §732.503 |  [Fla. Stat. §732.502](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0732/Sections/0732.502.html) |  
 |  Everywhere else |  Almost always 2 adult witnesses using the same formalities as a will |  Roughly half of states accept holographic wills; the rest don’t |  Generally optional; used for self-proving affidavits |  Check your state’s probate code |

When in doubt, over-comply: Two disinterested adult witnesses, everyone signing 
in one sitting, plus a self-proving affidavit where your state uses one. Extra formality
never invalidates a codicil; missing formality does.

## The Republication Trap Most Templates Never Mention

![Republication by codicil trap that can disinherit a child born after the will](
https://i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-2866-09-
republication-trap.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

Here’s the detail I most want parents and grandparents to hear before signing anything.
When you execute a codicil, the law treats your entire will as re-signed on the 
codicil’s date. Lawyers call this “republication by codicil.” Usually it’s harmless.
In one situation it’s devastating.

Every state protects children who are born or adopted _after_ a will was signed 
and were never mentioned in it. The law calls them “omitted” or “pretermitted” children,
and it typically gives them an automatic share of the estate on the theory that 
the parent forgot to update the will, not that they meant to disinherit their child.
California’s version, [Probate Code §21620](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB&sectionNum=21620.),
states the timing rule plainly: The protection covers a child born or adopted after
the execution of _all_ of the decedent’s testamentary instruments. A codicil is 
a testamentary instrument.

Now walk through what that means. You sign a will, then have a baby, then sign a
codicil that does something unrelated, like swapping your executor. The codicil 
re-dates your will to a day when your child was already alive. Your child is no 
longer “born after the will,” so the automatic protection evaporates, and if the
will never mentions them, they can end up with nothing. A Florida appellate court
reached exactly that result in _Azcunce v. Estate of Azcunce_ (1991): a daughter
born between the will and a later codicil lost her statutory share because the codicil
republished the will after her birth.

**The protective rule is easy:** If any child has been born or adopted since you
signed your will, don’t sign a codicil that ignores them. Either provide for them(
or intentionally address them) in the codicil itself, or skip the codicil and sign
a [new will](https://clearlegaltips.com/free-last-will-and-testament-template/) 
that reflects your family as it exists today.

Republication has friendlier uses too. Because the codicil re-dates the will, it
can reaffirm your wishes after a life event that might otherwise invite a challenge,
and in some states it can cure certain technical defects in the original document.
If you think you need republication to fix a broken will, though, that’s a conversation
for a probate attorney, not a template.

## Codicil vs. New Will vs. Online Service: What Should You Use?

![Codicil cost comparison DIY template versus online builder versus attorney](https://
i0.wp.com/clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-05-codicil-cost-
comparison.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

There’s no single right answer; it depends on how complex your change is and how
much guidance you want. Here’s an honest cost and fit comparison.

  |  Option |  Typical Cost |  Best For |  
   |  Free codicil template (like ours) |  $0 |  One or two clearly worded changes, signed with the right witnesses |  
 |  Online will/codicil builder |  $0–$100 |  State-specific wording and a guided signing checklist |  
 |  Estate-planning attorney |  Commonly $300–$1,000+ |  Complex estates, blended families, tax planning, or any risk of a contest |

If your change is genuinely simple, the free template does the job. If you’d rather
answer plain-English questions and have the document adapt to your state’s rules
automatically, a guided builder is a low-cost middle ground. And if your estate 
involves a business, a trust, or potential family conflict, pay for an attorney;
the fee is small next to the cost of a will contest.

Want guided, state-specific estate documents without the attorney bill? LawDepot’s
builder creates your codicil step by step and pairs it with your state’s signing
requirements.

[Build Your Codicil with LawDepot →](https://clearlegaltips.com/go/lawdepot-codicil-to-will)

## Common Codicil Mistakes to Avoid

![Common codicil mistakes that get amendments thrown out in probate](https://i0.
wp.com/clearlegaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/codicil-2866-10-common-mistakes.
jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

### Mistake 1: Editing the Will Itself

Handwriting a change in the margin of your will or crossing out a line usually accomplishes
nothing, and it can raise questions about the whole document. Execute a separate,
properly witnessed codicil instead.

### Mistake 2: Using a Beneficiary as a Witness

As the table above shows, New York voids the gift and California presumes wrongdoing.
Two disinterested adults are always available somewhere; use them.

### Mistake 3: Vague Language

“I want my daughter to have a little more” means nothing in probate. State the exact
gift, the person’s full legal name, and the exact provision you’re changing.

### Mistake 4: Losing the Original Will

A codicil amends a specific will. If the original can’t be found, your codicil may
have nothing to attach to, and a court may presume a missing will was revoked. Keep
them together and tell your executor where they are.

### Mistake 5: Stacking Too Many Codicils

By the third amendment you’ve built a puzzle for the probate court, and every extra
document is another thing to authenticate. If you keep changing the same will, stop
and write a fresh one that revokes everything before it.

### Mistake 6: Expecting a Codicil to Change Non-Probate Assets

Life insurance, 401(k)s, IRAs, and payable-on-death bank accounts pass by beneficiary
designation, outside your will entirely. No codicil can redirect them. Update those
beneficiary forms directly with the insurer, plan administrator, or bank. The same
goes for assets you’ve retitled into a [revocable living trust](https://clearlegaltips.com/living-trust-template-revocable/):
They follow the trust document, not the will.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is a codicil legally binding?

Yes. As long as it’s executed with the same formalities your state requires for 
a will, generally your signature plus two disinterested witnesses, a codicil carries
the same legal weight as the will it amends.

### Do I need a lawyer to write a codicil?

No. For a simple change like updating an executor or adding a single gift, a clearly
written template signed and witnessed correctly is enough. Bring in an attorney 
if your estate is large, involves a trust or business, a child was born after your
will was signed, or you expect anyone to challenge the change.

### Does a codicil need to be notarized?

Not for validity in most states; witnesses are what make it binding. A notary comes
in for the optional self-proving affidavit, which speeds up probate. California 
is different: It relies on the signed attestation clause instead of notarized affidavits.

### Can a codicil be handwritten?

In states that recognize holographic wills, such as California and Texas, a codicil
written entirely in your own hand can be valid without witnesses. Florida rejects
unwitnessed handwritten codicils, and New York allows them only for active-duty 
military and mariners at sea. A typed, witnessed codicil is the safe choice everywhere.

### Can I sign a codicil electronically?

Only in the minority of states that authorize electronic wills, such as Florida 
under [Fla. Stat. §732.521](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0732/Sections/0732.521.html)
and following, and those laws impose strict electronic-witnessing rules. Most states
still require ink on paper. Unless your state clearly allows electronic execution,
print it and sign it.

### How many codicils can I add to a will?

There’s no legal limit, but two or three is the practical maximum. Beyond that, 
the stack of amendments becomes hard to read and easy to contest. At that point,
replace the will entirely.

### What happens if my codicil conflicts with my will?

The codicil controls. As the more recent expression of your wishes, it governs wherever
it contradicts the will, and the will governs everywhere else.

### Can a codicil change the beneficiary on my life insurance or 401(k)?

No. Those assets pass by beneficiary designation outside the will, so a codicil 
has no effect on them. Change the designation form directly with the insurance company
or plan administrator.

## Amend Your Will the Right Way

Life changes, and a will that no longer matches your life puts the people you love
in the position of guessing what you meant. A codicil lets you make a precise update
without starting over, provided you word the change clearly, sign it with two disinterested
witnesses, and watch for the republication trap if your family has grown. Copy the
template above or download the fillable version, follow the signing steps, and store
the codicil with your original will. Fifteen careful minutes now is a genuine kindness
to the people who’ll rely on that document later.

Prefer a guided version? LawDepot’s codicil builder asks plain-English questions
and produces a state-specific amendment ready to sign.

[Get Started with LawDepot →](https://clearlegaltips.com/go/lawdepot-codicil-to-will)

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**Legal Disclaimer:** This article is general information, not legal advice. ClearLegalTips
is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Laws vary by state 
and change over time. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed
attorney in your jurisdiction.

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ClearLegalTips is an independent publisher of plain-English legal guides, free document
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