Codicil Singapore: How to Amend Your Will Without Rewriting It
A legal add-on that updates specific parts of your existing will
Not financial advice. All figures for educational reference only. Data as at September 2026. Last updated: September 2026.
A codicil is a supplementary legal document used to make a small amendment to an existing will in Singapore — such as changing an executor, updating a specific bequest, or adding a new beneficiary — without having to revoke the entire will and start from scratch, provided it is executed with the same legal formalities as the original will.
Key Takeaways
- A codicil is legally treated as part of the original will, and it must be signed and witnessed by two witnesses in the same way a will is, under Singapore’s Wills Act.
- Codicils are best used for minor, specific changes — such as changing an executor or adjusting one bequest — rather than for substantial overhauls of the whole estate plan.
- Multiple codicils can technically be attached to one will, but each additional codicil increases the risk of confusion or conflicting instructions if not drafted carefully.
- For major changes — such as a change in marital status, the birth of children, or a complete rethink of how assets should be divided — lawyers generally recommend writing a brand new will rather than a codicil.
- Marriage automatically revokes an existing will in Singapore (with limited exceptions), and a codicil cannot fix that — a new will is required after marriage.
Table of Contents
What Is a Codicil?
How It Works in Singapore
Example
Advantages
Risks and Limitations
Codicil vs New Will
The Bottom Line
FAQ
What Is a Codicil?
A codicil is a formal legal instrument used to amend, add to, or partially revoke provisions in an existing, validly executed will, without requiring the testator (the will-maker) to rewrite the entire document. The word comes from the Latin “codicillus,” meaning a small writing tablet, reflecting its traditional role as a brief supplementary note rather than a wholesale replacement.
Under Singapore’s Wills Act, a codicil is legally treated as forming part of the will it amends, which means it must satisfy exactly the same formal execution requirements as a will itself: it must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by someone else in the testator’s presence and by their direction), and that signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two or more witnesses who are both present at the same time and who then also sign the document. If a codicil fails to meet these formalities, it can be challenged or ruled invalid, just as an improperly executed will can be.
A codicil is typically used for narrower, more surgical changes — for example, updating the name of an executor who has since passed away or emigrated, changing a specific cash bequest amount, or adding a newly acquired asset — rather than for changes that touch the overall structure or intent of the will.
How Does a Codicil Work in Singapore?
In Singapore, a codicil is usually prepared by the same lawyer who drafted the original will, precisely because the lawyer already has the original document on file and can ensure the codicil’s wording integrates cleanly with the existing will’s clauses, avoiding accidental contradictions. The codicil should clearly reference the original will by its date and identify exactly which clause or clauses it is amending, replacing, or adding to, while confirming that all other provisions of the original will remain unchanged and in full force.
Once signed and witnessed correctly, the codicil is typically stored together with the original will (either with the lawyer, at home in a safe location, or lodged with the Wills Registry maintained by the Singapore Academy of Law), since a will and its codicil(s) will be read together as a single set of instructions by the executor and, if needed, by the Family Justice Courts during probate. It is important to note that certain life events override a codicil entirely: under Singapore law, marriage automatically revokes an existing will (subject to limited exceptions such as a will made expressly in contemplation of that specific marriage), so someone who marries after making a will and codicil generally needs to make an entirely new will, not merely another codicil, to have a valid testamentary document again.
a Codicil Example
Mr Koh made a will five years ago naming his brother as executor and leaving S$50,000 to a specific charity. His brother has since emigrated and is no longer willing to act as executor, and Mr Koh also wants to increase the charity bequest to S$80,000 following a good year in his business. Rather than rewriting his entire five-page will, his lawyer drafts a one-page codicil that specifically states: clause 3 (naming the executor) is replaced with his sister’s name instead, and clause 7 (the charity bequest) is replaced with the new S$80,000 figure, while confirming all other provisions of the original will remain unchanged.
Mr Koh signs the codicil in front of two witnesses, exactly as he did for the original will, and the codicil is stored together with the original will. When Mr Koh eventually passes away, his executor (now his sister) presents both the original will and the codicil together to the Family Justice Courts as part of the probate application.
Advantages of a Codicil
Faster and cheaper than a full rewrite. For a small, specific change, a codicil generally costs less in legal fees and takes less time to prepare than drafting and executing an entirely new will.
Preserves the rest of the original will intact. A codicil only touches the specific clauses it addresses, leaving the rest of the carefully considered original estate plan undisturbed.
Legally straightforward when done correctly. Because the formal requirements mirror those of a will, a properly executed codicil carries the same legal weight and is well understood by lawyers and the courts.
Useful for time-sensitive updates. If an executor becomes unavailable or a beneficiary’s circumstances change and a will update is needed quickly, a codicil can often be arranged faster than starting a full will review from scratch.
Risks and Limitations
Multiple codicils increase the risk of confusion. If several codicils accumulate over the years, each amending different parts of the will, it becomes progressively harder for an executor (or a court) to reconstruct the testator’s final, true intentions, especially if any codicils inadvertently conflict with each other.
Same execution risks as a will. A codicil that is not properly signed and witnessed in accordance with the Wills Act can be challenged and ruled invalid, potentially reverting the relevant clause back to the original (now outdated) wording.
Not suitable for major life changes. Using a codicil to attempt a substantial restructuring of the estate plan, rather than writing a fresh will, increases the risk of internal inconsistency and future disputes among beneficiaries.
Does not survive marriage. Because marriage automatically revokes a will (and by extension, any codicil attached to it) under Singapore law, a codicil made before a subsequent marriage becomes void along with the underlying will, requiring an entirely new will afterward.
Physical storage matters. If the original will and codicil are not stored together, or if one is misplaced, an executor may struggle to prove the full, final set of instructions during probate.
Codicil vs Writing an Entirely New Will
| Feature | Codicil | New Will |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small, specific changes (e.g. one executor, one bequest) | Major life changes or a full rethink of the estate plan |
| Legal formality required | Same as a will — written, signed, two witnesses | Written, signed, two witnesses |
| Relationship to original will | Read together with the original will as one set | Typically revokes all previous wills |
| Relative cost | Usually lower for a simple amendment | Higher, but clearer for substantial changes |
| Risk of internal conflict | Higher if multiple codicils accumulate over time | Lower — a single, self-contained document |
General guidance under Singapore’s Wills Act, referenced September 2026. Consult a qualified lawyer to determine which is appropriate for your circumstances.
The Bottom Line
A codicil is a useful, cost-effective tool for making a narrow, well-defined update to an otherwise sound will, but it is not a substitute for proper estate planning after a major life event — marriage, divorce, a new child, or a significant change in assets generally calls for a fresh will rather than another codicil stacked onto an ageing document.