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Free Codicil to Will Template
Amend your existing last will and testament without rewriting it. Add new provisions, revoke outdated clauses, or replace specific sections with our professionally structured United States codicil template — valid in all 50 American states.
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FIRST CODICIL TO LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
State Of Pennsylvania
TESTATOR INFORMATION
| FULL LEGAL NAME | William R. Caldwell |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 14, 1958 |
| ADDRESS | 742 Chestnut Hill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19118 |
| STATE OF DOMICILE | Pennsylvania |
I, William R. Caldwell, residing at 742 Chestnut Hill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19118, Pennsylvania, being of legal age, of sound mind, and not acting under duress or undue influence, declare this to be the First Codicil to my Last Will and Testament dated September 15, 2020. This Codicil is executed with the testamentary formalities required by Uniform Probate Code (UPC) § 2-502 (writing, signature, two disinterested witnesses) and the corresponding provisions of the probate code of the State of Pennsylvania (see, e.g., Cal. Prob. Code §§ 6110–6113; N.Y. EPTL §§ 3-2.1–3-2.2; Fla. Stat. §§ 732.501–732.525; Tex. Est. Code §§ 251.001–251.258, as applicable).
1.
AMENDMENT 1
Article III, Section 2 of my Last Will and Testament, which currently provides: “I bequeath the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) to my nephew, James R. Caldwell.”, is hereby amended and replaced with the following:
"I bequeath the sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) to my nephew, James R. Caldwell, of 200 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103."
"I bequeath the sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) to my nephew, James R. Caldwell, of 200 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103."
2.
AMENDMENT 2
Article V of my Last Will and Testament is hereby supplemented with the following new provision:
"I hereby establish a scholarship fund in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) to be administered by the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association for a deserving undergraduate student studying American History."
"I hereby establish a scholarship fund in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) to be administered by the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association for a deserving undergraduate student studying American History."
Reason for Changes: These changes reflect updated family circumstances and my desire to support higher education.
3.
CONFIRMATION OF ORIGINAL WILL
In all other respects, I hereby ratify and confirm my Last Will and Testament dated September 15, 2020, and declare that, except as expressly amended by this Codicil, all provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. Pursuant to UPC § 2-507 (revocation by subsequent will or codicil) and the doctrine of republication by codicil, the execution of this Codicil shall reaffirm and republish my Last Will and Testament as of the date of this Codicil, except insofar as the amendments above expressly provide otherwise; documents or memoranda identified in the original Will may continue to be incorporated by reference pursuant to UPC § 2-510.
4.
OMITTED HEIRS
No child, spouse, or other heir is unintentionally omitted by this Codicil. Any person not expressly provided for in my Will, as amended by this and any prior codicil(s), is intentionally omitted, except to the extent that applicable pretermitted-heir statutes (including UPC §§ 2-301, 2-302 and the corresponding provisions of the probate code of the State of Pennsylvania) provide otherwise as a matter of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand to this First Codicil on January 20, 2025, at Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
TESTATOR
William R. Caldwell
Date: ____________________
We, the undersigned, being two (2) disinterested witnesses as contemplated by UPC § 2-502 and the corresponding provisions of the probate code of the State of Pennsylvania, declare that the Testator signed this Codicil (or asked another to sign for the Testator) in our joint presence, and that the Testator appeared to be of legal age, of sound mind, and acting freely and without duress or undue influence. We declare under penalty of perjury, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, that the foregoing is true and correct, and that this attestation was executed on January 20, 2025 at Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
WITNESS 1
120 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Margaret A. Foster
Date: ____________________
WITNESS 2
88 Spruce Lane, Ardmore, PA 19003
Thomas J. Rivera
Date: ____________________
SELF-PROVING AFFIDAVIT (UPC § 2-504)
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA
Before me, the undersigned notarial officer acting pursuant to the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts as enacted in the State of Pennsylvania, on this date personally appeared William R. Caldwell, known to me to be the Testator, and Margaret A. Foster and Thomas J. Rivera, known to me to be the attesting witnesses, and all being duly sworn, the Testator declared that the foregoing instrument is the First Codicil to their Last Will and Testament, that it was willingly signed and executed as a free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed. Each witness stated that they signed the Codicil as witness in the presence and at the request of the Testator, and in the presence of each other witness, and that to the best of their knowledge the Testator was at that time of legal age, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence. This affidavit is intended to satisfy UPC § 2-504 and the corresponding self-proving affidavit statute of the State of Pennsylvania.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA
Before me, the undersigned notarial officer acting pursuant to the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts as enacted in the State of Pennsylvania, on this date personally appeared William R. Caldwell, known to me to be the Testator, and Margaret A. Foster and Thomas J. Rivera, known to me to be the attesting witnesses, and all being duly sworn, the Testator declared that the foregoing instrument is the First Codicil to their Last Will and Testament, that it was willingly signed and executed as a free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed. Each witness stated that they signed the Codicil as witness in the presence and at the request of the Testator, and in the presence of each other witness, and that to the best of their knowledge the Testator was at that time of legal age, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence. This affidavit is intended to satisfy UPC § 2-504 and the corresponding self-proving affidavit statute of the State of Pennsylvania.
NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT
State of ________________________, County of ________________________
On this ______ day of ________________________, 20______, before me personally appeared Patricia D. Hawkins, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged that they executed the same for the purposes therein contained.
On this ______ day of ________________________, 20______, before me personally appeared Patricia D. Hawkins, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged that they executed the same for the purposes therein contained.
Notary Public Signature
My commission expires: ___________________________
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What Is a Codicil to a Will?
A codicil to a will is a legal document used throughout the United States that allows you to make formal changes to your existing last will and testament without rewriting the entire will. It serves as an official amendment that can add new provisions, revoke outdated clauses, or replace specific sections while leaving the rest of your will intact and legally valid.
Codicils are commonly used by American testators when life circumstances change, such as the birth of a new family member, a change in financial situation, the death of a named beneficiary, or the desire to appoint a different executor. Instead of drafting an entirely new will, a U.S. codicil provides a straightforward way to update specific provisions while maintaining the structure and intent of your original estate plan.
A properly executed codicil carries the same legal weight as the original will under U.S. law. It must be signed by the testator (the person making the changes) in the presence of witnesses, and in many American states, a self-proving affidavit with notarization is recommended to simplify the probate process. The codicil is then stored alongside the original will so they are read together as a single unified document.
What's Covered in This Template
Doxuno's codicil to will template includes all essential sections needed to formally amend your existing will. Each section can be customized to reflect your specific changes and requirements.
Testator Identification
Original Will Reference
Codicil Number
Revoke Provisions
Replace Provisions
Add New Provisions
Up to Four Amendments
Ratification Clause
Prior Codicil Tracking
Witness Attestation
Self-Proving Affidavit
Notary Seal Section
How to Create a Codicil to Your Will
Creating a codicil requires careful attention to legal formalities to ensure your amendments are valid and enforceable. Our template walks you through each step so your changes are properly documented. Follow these steps to amend your will.
- 1
Enter Your Testator Information
Provide your full legal name, date of birth, current residential address, and state of domicile. This information identifies you as the person making the codicil and must match the information on your original will to establish a clear connection between the two documents.
- 2
Reference Your Original Will
Enter the date of the original will being amended, select whether this is your first, second, third, or fourth codicil, and indicate whether any prior codicils exist. This establishes a clear chain of amendments and prevents confusion during probate.
- 3
Specify Your Amendments
For each change you want to make, identify the article or section being modified, choose whether you want to revoke, replace, or add a provision, and provide the new text. You can include up to four amendments in a single codicil, along with an optional reason for the changes.
- 4
Confirm Remaining Provisions
Declare that all provisions of your original will not expressly amended or revoked by this codicil remain in full force and effect. Alternatively, you can identify additional specific provisions to revoke. This ratification clause ensures the rest of your estate plan continues unchanged.
- 5
Execute with Witnesses and Notarization
Sign the codicil in the presence of at least two disinterested witnesses who are not beneficiaries of the will. For most states, include a self-proving affidavit notarized at the time of signing. This eliminates the need for witnesses to appear in court during probate and streamlines the process.
Why Doxuno documents are different
Four things that make our templates more thorough than AI-generated drafts and more current than static template libraries.
Always current
Always current with the law
Templates carrying statute references are continuously updated as the law changes. Your document always reflects the current legal framework.
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Legal Considerations for US Codicils
A U.S. codicil must follow the same legal formalities as the original will to be valid. Understanding the requirements in your American state ensures your amendments will be recognized by the courts and properly administered during probate in the United States.
This template is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For complex estate plans or high-value estates, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
Reviewed by legal professionals. The content on this page and the template clauses have been reviewed by licensed attorneys in the United States to ensure accuracy and legal soundness for standard codicil scenarios.
Witness Requirements Vary by State
Most US states require a codicil to be signed in the presence of at least two disinterested witnesses, meaning people who are not beneficiaries under the will. Some American states, like Vermont, require three witnesses, while Louisiana has unique notarial will requirements. The witnesses must observe the testator sign the codicil and must sign it themselves in each other's presence. Using beneficiaries as witnesses can invalidate their inheritance or the entire codicil depending on U.S. state law.
Self-Proving Affidavit Simplifies Probate
A self-proving affidavit is a notarized statement attached to the codicil in which the testator and witnesses swear under oath that the document was properly executed. With a self-proving affidavit, the codicil can be admitted to probate without requiring the witnesses to appear in court. Nearly all states recognize self-proving affidavits, and including one is strongly recommended to reduce delays and complications during probate.
When to Write a New Will Instead
If you need to make extensive changes that affect the overall structure of your U.S. estate plan, it may be clearer and less prone to legal challenges to draft a new American will that revokes all prior wills and codicils. Multiple codicils can create confusion, especially if they overlap or contradict each other. As a general rule in the United States, if more than a third of your will needs to change, consider starting fresh with a new will.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Create a legally structured U.S. codicil in minutes. Add, revoke, or replace provisions in your existing American will without rewriting the entire document.
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