The last will and testament is an essential part of any estate plan. This legal document allows you to determine how your possessions will be distributed after your death. While a last will and testament typically remains in effect perpetually, it is possible to amend or revoke these documents after their creation.

The revocation of a will in Moorestown could impact your overall estate plan, so working with an experienced wills attorney is essential to make sure any changes have the intended effects. A legal professional at Nesevich Law, LLC, is available to further explain the process and implications of revoking a will.

What Is Will Revocation?

Revoking a will voids this legal document in its entirety, meaning courts will not consider the document valid, and it will not play a role in legal processes after the testator’s death. This is different from amending the will, where someone changes some of the terms but leaves the document in place.

There are several reasons why someone might decide to revoke their last will and testament. When someone experiences a major life change, the terms of their pre-existing will may no longer be desirable or make sense. One of the most common reasons people revoke a will is when they experience a marriage or divorce. Someone may also want to revoke their will when they inherit a substantial amount of money or acquire new property. Even moving to a new state could provide a reason to revoke a will and start over with the estate planning process.

Regardless of someone’s reasons for wanting to revoke their will, a Moorestown lawyer could help them meet the legal requirements for this process. An attorney could also help someone draft a new document that reflects their changed priorities to ensure they still have a plan going forward.

Ways to Revoke a Will

In Moorestown, there are several options for formally revoking a will. An attorney could further explain these processes and help someone determine the best option for their situation.

Creating a New Will

Drafting a new, legally valid will is typically the simplest method to revoke a pre-existing one. This process involves someone creating a new document that includes a clear statement declaring all previous versions and documents invalid.

Physical Act

A less common way of revoking a will is by physically destroying the document. A physical act could involve burning the will or ripping it in half. The person who destroys the will must do so with the clear intention of rendering the document invalid.

Operation of Law

Certain life changes may automatically change portions of a will. For example, a divorce settlement could impact a will that initially planned to allocate property to the former spouse.

It is never wise to assume these changes will happen automatically, so consulting with an attorney is still important to ensure a will is accurate to someone’s final wishes.

Talk to a Moorestown Attorney About Will Revocation

When you are considering revoking your will, it is important to get help from a proactive estate planning attorney. If you make mistakes during this process, you may accidentally leave your former will in place or your estate vulnerable. To discuss the revocation of a will in Moorestown, reach out to the skilled legal team at Nesevich Law, LLC.