# Codicil To Will In Wake Forest | Trusted Estate Planning Lawyer

[Call Now Click Here](tel:919-659-8433)

Click [HERE](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/) to speak with NC’s trusted statewide Estate Planning, Probate, and Special Needs Planning Law Firm!

# CODICIL TO WILL IN WAKE FOREST

Helping You Protect What Matters Most.      900+    Google Reviews     [Take Our Quick Planning Quiz](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/) Or Call [919-659-8433](tel:919-659-8433)                      Codicil To Will In Wake Forest

The purpose of a Will is to state your wishes for your property after you pass away. However, these goals may change over time. Perhaps you acquired new property, got married, or had additional children. Each of these scenarios can leave a Will outdated, and without revisions, the probate court may not uphold your true…

[Take Our Quick Planning Quiz](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/)

## Quick Answer

Table of Contents

Toggle

The purpose of a [Will](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-wills-lawyer/) is to state your wishes for your property after you pass away. However, these goals may change over time. Perhaps you acquired new property, got married, or had additional children. Each of these scenarios can leave a Will outdated, and without revisions, the [probate court](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-probate-lawyer/) may not uphold your true wishes. If you wish to change your Will, speak with an experienced lawyer at our firm about enacting a codicil. Codicils in Wake Forest function as amendments to otherwise complete Wills. A knowledgeable attorney can provide more information about the purpose of codicils and help you legally amend your Will.

## **The Legal Impact of a Codicil **

A codicil is a revision to a testamentary document that already exists. These changes serve to make a permanent addition or deletion from a Will. Although it is possible to override an old document by creating a new one, codicils are the only way to change a Will.

In a valid codicil, [North Carolina General Statutes § 31-5.1](https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_31/Article_2.pdf) says that a party may:

- Add language
- Delete portions of an existing Will
- Change existing language

To have a legal effect, parties must make these changes in the presence of at least two witnesses and a notary. A skilled lawyer at our Chapel Hill office can help you take the necessary steps to place a codicil in an already complete Will.

## **Common Reasons to Create a Codicil in Wake Forest**

A Will represents a person’s wishes to be carried out after their death, but those wishes may change over time. For instance, if a person creates a Will at the age of 30, it is unlikely that their desires will be the same over the following decades. One common reason to pursue a codicil is the acquisition of new property. An old Will might not speak to a family home, a new car, or business interests. If a Will does not address certain items when the testator dies, that property will go through the state’s intestacy inheritance laws, which rarely align with a person’s desires. As such, it is essential to keep an estate’s assets up to date by creating codicils.  Similarly, a growing family could necessitate a codicil. People often use Wills to bequeath property to children, family members, or friends. A person may want to write a new acquaintance in to a Will or disinherit others due to changing life circumstances. A local attorney could listen to an individual’s wants and needs and help draft a well-tailored codicil to accomplish their goals.

## **Discuss Codicils with a Wake Forest Attorney**

A Will serves as a way to memorialize a person’s wishes at a moment in time, and it is important to update those goals as life progresses and changes. Whether you have acquired new property, gotten married, had children, or gone through other major life events, it is always possible to modify a Will through a codicil. However, there are several requirements for a codicil to be legally valid, so it is best to consult an attorney with experience drafting codicils in Wake Forest. For more information, [contact us today](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/) and learn how we can help you.

## Schedule a consultation

[Take Our Quick Planning Quiz](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/)     900+    Google Reviews

## Schedule a consultation

900+    Google Reviews

## How We Help North Carolina Families

CARY    RALEIGH      [Estate Planning](https://caryestateplanning.com/) [WILLS](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-wills-lawyer/) [TRUSTS](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-trusts-lawyer/) [PROBATE](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-probate-lawyer/) [ELDER LAW & MEDICAID PLANNING](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-medicaid-planning-lawyer/) [SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING](https://caryestateplanning.com/special-needs-trusts/) [POWER OF ATTORNEY](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-power-of-attorney-lawyer/) [GUARDIANSHIP](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-guardianship-lawyer/) [ESTATE ADMINISTRATION](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-estate-administration-lawyer/) [FINANCIAL PLANNING](https://caryestateplanning.com/cary-financial-planning/)     [Estate Planning](https://caryestateplanning.com/raleigh-estate-planning-lawyer/) [WILLS](https://caryestateplanning.com/raleigh-estate-planning-lawyer/raleigh-wills-lawyer/) [TRUSTS](https://caryestateplanning.com/raleigh-estate-planning-lawyer/raleigh-trusts-lawyer/)     PROBATE      ELDER LAW & MEDICAID PLANNING      SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING      POWER OF ATTORNEY      GUARDIANSHIP      ESTATE ADMINISTRATION      FINANCIAL PLANNING         Cary Office     [1255 Crescent Green,
STE 200, Cary, NC 27518](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10586265549256419209)   900+    Google Reviews   [Take Our Quick Planning Quiz](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/)     Raleigh Office     [9121 Anson Way Suite
235, Raleigh, NC 27615](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=14359503740153328567)   900+    Google Reviews   [Take Our Quick Planning Quiz](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/)

## Trusted Estate Planning
Attorney Offices in Cary and Raleigh

Serving all of North Carolina    Cary Office 1255 Crescent Green,
STE 200, Cary, NC 27518 [Get Directions](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10586265549256419209)   Raleigh Office 9121 Anson Way Suite
235, Raleigh, NC 27615 [Get Directions](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=14359503740153328567)

Capability to meet virtually to help all NC residents

[919-659-8433](tel:919-659-8433)  [Contact Us Now](https://caryestateplanning.com/contact-us/)

DISCLAIMER: The law firm of Cary Estate Planning cannot and does not represent you until our client intake process is completed. Further, we reserve the right to accept or decline to represent any person or organization in any matter. Nothing on this website should be considered legal advice.

Copyright © 2026 Cary Estate Planning. All Rights Reserved.  [Disclaimer](https://caryestateplanning.com/disclaimer/) [Privacy Policy](https://caryestateplanning.com/privacy-policy/) [Sitemap](https://caryestateplanning.com/sitemap/)            [Get Started](/contact-us/)        ×                  4.9     Based on 900+ reviews     900+    Google Reviews

### What best describes your current situation?

I don’t have an estate plan yet and want to get started      I have an estate plan but need to update it      A loved one has passed away and I need help with probate or estate administration      I’m looking for help with a specific issue (guardianship, special needs, Medicaid, etc.)      Other

### What’s most important to you right now?

Making sure my kids or family are taken care of if something happens to me      Protecting my assets from taxes, creditors, or unnecessary costs      Planning for a loved one with special needs or a disability      Navigating probate or settling a loved one’s estate      Updating my plan after a major life change (marriage, divorce, new child, retirement)

### Which of these applies to you? (Select all that apply)

I own a home or real estate      I own a business      I have investments, retirement accounts, or life insurance      I have children under 18      I have a child or loved one with special needs      I’m caring for aging parents (sandwich generation)      I’m approaching or in retirement      None of the above / just getting started

### Where are you located?

Cary / Western Wake County      Raleigh / Central Wake County      Chapel Hill / Orange County      Elsewhere in North Carolina      Outside North Carolina

---

Source: https://caryestateplanning.com/codicil-to-will-in-wake-forest/
