“Is your Will still doing what you need it to?” – When (and why) you should update it

By Steve Bish

Writing a Will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your loved ones.

But here’s something many people don’t realise: having a Will isn’t a “one and done” job.

Your life changes and your Will should keep up.

I’ve seen too many families caught out because a Will was written years ago and never

looked at again. So, let’s talk about when you should be reviewing it, when you should be updating it and how to make sure it still reflects your wishes.

When should you review your Will?

As a rule of thumb, I recommend reviewing your Will every 5 years, or sooner if

something significant happens in your life.

Here are some of the key moments to prompt a review:

 A new child or grandchild is born

 You buy or sell a property

 You go through a divorce

 You get married (marriage usually invalidates an existing Will)

 Your financial situation changes

 A change in family dynamics like estrangement or reconciliation

The New Year is a great time to pause, reflect, and make sure everything’s still as it should be It gives you (and your family) peace of mind for the year ahead.

When should you update your Will?

Sometimes a quick review shows that everything still makes sense. But other times, you’ll spot things that need to be updated.

Here are a few common triggers for a rewrite:

 Someone named in your Will (like an executor, trustee, or beneficiary) has passed

away

 You’re planning to get married or have recently married

 You’ve divorced your ex may still be in your Will unless it’s been updated

 Your business has grown or your finances have changed significantly

 You want to include a new child or grandchild

 You’ve been affected by a change in tax laws or regulations

 Your partner might need future care, and you want to protect your estate

appropriately

It's especially important to act if your Will no longer reflects what you really want

because if you don’t update it, your estate might go to the wrong people, or trigger family disputes that could have been avoided.

Do you always need to make a new Will?

Not necessarily. If the changes are minor for example, switching an executor you might be able to use a codicil, which is a legal document that modifies your existing Will.

But in many cases, especially where several updates are needed, it’s safer and clearer to

write a new Will from scratch. That way there’s no confusion and less risk of anything

getting lost or misinterpreted later.

The bottom line

If it’s been a few years since you last looked at your Will, or something in your life has

changed, it’s time for a review.

A good Will gives your loved ones clarity, protects your assets, and ensures your wishes are followed but only if it’s kept up to date.

If you’re unsure whether your Will still fits your situation, I’d be happy to have a chat and

walk you through the options.

Call me on 01727 634839

Or email me at contact@sbishestateplanning.com