Contents of a will
Contents of a will
Contents
This information applies only to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Introduction
In addition to those provisions in a will that deal with the appointment of executors and guardians (see 'Appointing executors and guardians'), or that specify who is to inherit what property (see 'Gifts and beneficiaries'), a will typically includes the provisions detailed below.
The opening clause
In all wills it is traditional to have an opening clause that identifies the testator (the person making the will), their full name and address, as well as any other names by which they have been known. This makes it easier to identify the person who made the will should any problems arise. The opening clause usually includes the current address of the testator being the last address where the testator lived.
The opening clause further states that the will is 'the testator's last will and testament' and that helps to demonstrate that the testator intended the document to be a will.
The revocation clause
The revocation clause cancels any other wills made previously. It is important to express the fact that the current will replaces all previous wills and testamentary dispositions (i.e. documents that are wills or alter existing wills (e.g. codicils) or are part of existing wills) that were prepared and signed by the testator as it makes the testator's intention absolutely clear. If you make a later will revoking an earlier one and you later also revoke the later will, the earlier will does not come back into effect.
If you have a foreign will to deal with any foreign assets, care should be taken not to revoke any such will if this is not your intention.
Funeral instructions
The testator may also wish to give specific instructions with regard to burial. If it is the testator's wish, for example, to be cremated, this may be expressed.