How do I change my Will to designate one of my children as the Executor?
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How do I change my Will to designate one of my children as the Executor?
Also, are they required to be present when this change is made? My 3 children are listed as “joint Personal Representatives” in my Will. They live in different cities and it would be difficult for all 3 to handle my estate, so I would like to appoint 1 of them to execute my wishes.
Asked on October 8, 2010 under Estate Planning, Alabama
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
You can execute what is known as a "codicil". This is a written amendment (change) to a Will. It is typically short and is used to alter a provision of a Will, such as in your case. However, a codicil must be signed, witnessed, and notarized with the same degree of formality as a Will. If the Will is a simple one, it may be about as easy to have a new Will drafted. If the will is complex, and the codicil is designed to make a relatively minor change such as naming a new executor, a codicil can be useful and economical.
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