codicil
An addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one.
Must be executed with the same legal formalities as the original will (e.g., signed and witnessed). It is used to make minor changes without rewriting the entire document.
Word relationships
- amendment: A general term for any change to a document, whereas a codicil is specifically an amendment to a will.
- addendum: An addition to a book or contract, lacking the strict legal execution requirements of a codicil.
Commonly confused with
- appendix: An appendix is supplementary material at the end of a book, whereas a codicil is a legally binding modification of a will.
Collocations
- add a codicil
- valid codicil
- execute a codicil
Example sentences
- "Two weeks before his death, the billionaire added a codicil to his will, leaving his entire art collection to the city museum." A legal dispute over a late-stage change to a will.
- "Rather than drafting an entirely new will to change your executor, we can simply draft a short codicil." An instruction from an estate planning attorney.
Memory hook
Think of a 'codicil' as a 'code-sleeve'—an extra sleeve of code added to an existing program (the will) to update it. A codicil is a will's postscript.
When not to use
Do not use for informal notes, sticky notes, or letters left with a will that do not meet formal legal signing requirements.
Fun facts
- Before computers made rewriting wills easy, codicils were incredibly common because retyping a 20-page document by hand on a typewriter for a minor change was highly impractical.
Explore more words
amendment, supplement, amend, postscript, supplementary, bequeath
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