WordValecodicil
an addition or supplement that modifies a will
In more detail
1. (noun) a document that adds to or changes a will; a legal addition or change made to a will after it has been signed
Examples
- 1. She added a codicil to her will to leave her jewelry to her daughter.
How to use codicil
A codicil is a formal legal document used in estate planning to modify an existing will without having to rewrite the entire document. It is more commonly used in legal and formal contexts, particularly in discussions of wills, trusts, and inheritance. The term is specific to law and is not typically used metaphorically.
Common phrases
- execute a codicil
- add a codicil
- codicil to a will
- formal codicil
- valid codicil
Synonyms
addendum · supplement · amendment · rider · appendix
Word family
codicillary (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse a codicil with a completely new will, when in fact it is only a supplementary document that modifies specific provisions of an existing will.
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