Change a Will After a Death

You can change a person’s will after their death, as long as any beneficiaries left worse off by the changes agree. 

If there is no will the law decides who inherits (external link). You can make changes to the inheritance in the same way as if there is a will. 

Any changes to the will must be completed within 2 years of the death.

You can change a will to: 

What You Need to Do 

To change a will you will need to make a ‘variation’. You do not need a formal document or deed - you can write a letter as long as it meets these conditions (external link). If the variation means there is more Inheritance Tax to pay, you must send a copy to HM Revenue and Customs (external link) (HMRC) within 6 months of making it. You do not need to send a copy to HMRC if the variation does not change the amount of Inheritance Tax due.