Will Amendment Attorney in Galveston

Codicils & Will Updates for Galveston County Residents

Life changes. The will you signed five years ago may no longer reflect your family, your assets, or your intentions. At The Law Offices and Mediation Center of Susan M. Edmonson, we help Galveston clients assess what their existing will says, what needs to change, and which approach may produce the clearest, most enforceable result. Sometimes that means drafting a codicil. Sometimes it means replacing the document entirely. The right answer depends on your situation, and we take the time to understand it before recommending a path.

We serve clients throughout Galveston, Harris, Chambers, and Brazoria Counties.

If your will no longer matches your life, don’t wait for probate to expose the gap. Call our Galveston will amendment attorneys at (409) 239-0100 to schedule a consultation and review your existing estate plan.

Codicil vs. New Will: Choosing the Right Approach

A codicil is a formal written amendment to an existing will. Under the Texas Estates Code, it carries the same legal weight as the will itself and must meet the same execution requirements. It works well for targeted changes: swapping out an executor, updating a specific bequest, or naming a new beneficiary after a child is born. When the rest of your will remains accurate, a codicil is often the most efficient tool.

A new will becomes the better choice when changes are numerous, when major life circumstances have shifted, or when codicils have already accumulated on your existing document. Probate courts must read all documents together, and contradictions between a will and its amendments can create legal risk and can invite family disputes. A new will that includes a revocation clause expressly superseding all prior wills and codicils under Texas Estates Code Chapter 253 can reduce that ambiguity. Our role is to review your existing will alongside your intended changes and recommend whichever approach may produce the clearest result.

Texas Requirements for a Valid Codicil

A codicil that doesn’t meet Texas Estates Code requirements may not be enforceable. Under Section 251.051, a codicil must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by at least two credible people who are 14 or older. Both witnesses must sign in your presence. You must also have testamentary capacity at the time of signing, meaning you understand the document, the general scope of your property, your natural heirs, and how the changes affect your overall estate plan.

The codicil must clearly identify the original will it modifies, typically by referencing its date, and must specify exactly which provisions are being changed, added, or removed. Vague or contradictory language is one of the most common causes of probate disputes. An optional self-proving affidavit, signed before a notary by you and your witnesses, can allow the codicil to be admitted to probate without requiring those witnesses to appear in court later.

A few things worth noting:

• Writing changes on an existing typed will does not constitute a valid amendment under Texas law.
• A holographic codicil, written entirely in your own handwriting, is valid without witnesses, but it’s more susceptible to challenge during probate.
• A self-proving affidavit can add a layer of protection that may make the probate process simpler for your executor and your family.

Life Events That Signal It’s Time to Update Your Will

Several common situations can leave a gap between what your will says and what you intend. The death of a named executor or primary beneficiary, the birth or adoption of a child, a marriage or divorce, or significant changes in assets can all make an existing will inaccurate or incomplete.

Texas law addresses some of these automatically. Under Texas Estates Code Section 123.001, divorce or annulment generally removes a former spouse and their relatives from will benefits without a formal amendment. Updating the document afterward is still advisable, though, to clarify the full distribution plan. Separately, a child born or adopted after your will is signed who isn’t mentioned in it may be treated as a pretermitted heir under Texas Estates Code Chapter 255, potentially entitled to a share of the estate in a way that can disrupt your intended plan.

Asset changes matter too. If a specifically bequeathed property has been sold, its value has changed substantially, or you’ve acquired new property, existing bequests may be impossible to fulfill or may no longer reflect your wishes. For clients with real estate on Galveston Island or elsewhere in Galveston County, property valuation and distribution can raise considerations worth reviewing when evaluating whether your current will still holds up.

A Galveston Firm That Knows Your Estate Plan Over Time

Our attorneys bring over seven decades of combined legal experience to estate planning work. Founding attorney Susan M. Edmonson is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than 1,000 of Texas’s more than 100,000 licensed attorneys. That depth of legal practice carries through everything we handle, including will amendments.

What distinguishes our approach is continuity. We don’t treat a codicil as a one-time transaction. As a small local firm, we get to know our clients personally, which means we can recognize when a change in your life warrants a closer look at your estate plan and advise you accordingly over time. One client noted our strong work on wills and estate matters specifically. That kind of ongoing relationship is what we work to build with everyone who comes to us.

Schedule a Will Review in Galveston

If your current will no longer reflects your family or your intentions, a consultation is a practical first step. We can review your existing document, discuss what needs to change, and recommend the clearest path forward. We serve clients throughout Galveston and Galveston County.

Call us at (409) 239-0100 to schedule your consultation.