To remove a beneficiary from your will in England and Wales, either add a codicil that cancels the gift, or make a new will that revokes the old one. Both must be signed and witnessed by two people. Crossing out a name does nothing, and no will can fully stop certain relatives from later claiming on your estate.
People remove a beneficiary for all sorts of reasons: a relationship ends, an estrangement hardens, or a named person has died. The change itself is quick. What goes wrong is the paperwork around it, and the risk of a challenge afterwards under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. This guide covers the law of England and Wales, current as at August 2026.
Can you remove a beneficiary from your will?
Yes. While you are alive and have mental capacity, you can remove almost anyone from your will at any time, without their permission or knowledge. The main limit is that some close relatives and dependants may still claim against your estate after your death, even if you leave them nothing.
In England and Wales there is no forced heirship, so you decide who benefits, including removing an adult child, a sibling, a former partner or a friend named in an earlier will. Only you, the person who made the will (the testator), can do this, and only while you have mental capacity. An executor cannot remove a beneficiary, because an executor acts only after death and must carry out the will as written.
Codicil or a new will: which should you use?
Use a codicil only for a single, clean change, such as deleting one gift. For anything that affects the balance of the will, or where a codicil already exists, a fresh will is usually clearer. A codicil is cheap but easy to lose or misread; a new will removes that ambiguity by starting again.
Both routes are equally valid in law. The choice is about how clean the result is: a codicil sits alongside the original will and both must be read together, which invites confusion if the wording overlaps or a document goes missing.
| Consideration | Codicil | New will |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One small, self-contained change | Removing a beneficiary and reworking who gets their share |
| Clarity | Two documents must agree with each other | Single document, revokes all earlier ones |
| Risk of confusion | Higher if a codicil is lost or contradicts the will | Lower, everything is in one place |
| Formalities | Signed and witnessed by two people | Signed and witnessed by two people |
| Typical use today | Less common in practice | The usual modern choice |
Both a codicil and a new will must meet the signing and witnessing rules in the Wills Act 1837. Source: gov.uk, making changes to your will, as at August 2026, subject to change.
How to remove a beneficiary from your will, step by step
Removing a beneficiary properly takes five steps: decide what happens to their share, choose a codicil or a new will, draft the exact wording, sign it in front of two independent witnesses, and store it safely with the original. Each step matters, because a gap in any one of them can undo the change.
- Decide where their share now goes. If you delete a gift without saying who receives it instead, that part of your estate may pass under the rest of your will or the intestacy rules, which might not match your wishes.
- Choose the method. Pick a codicil for one clean deletion, or a new will where the change affects other gifts. If a codicil already exists, a new will is usually the tidier route.
- Draft the exact wording. Name the beneficiary clearly and cancel the specific gift or clause. Vague wording is a common cause of later disputes, so precision here protects your intentions.
- Sign it correctly. Sign in front of two independent adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries and not married to a beneficiary, and have them sign too. A witness who benefits can lose their gift.
- Store and record it. Keep the new will or codicil with, or replacing, the original, and tell your executors where it is. A change no one can find may never take effect.
What people get wrong when removing a beneficiary
The most common mistake is trying to edit the will yourself. Crossing out a name, writing in the margin, or deleting a line has no legal effect and can make the gift unclear. Other frequent errors include losing a codicil, using a witness who is also a beneficiary, and leaving no note of the reasons behind the change.
Under section 21 of the Wills Act 1837, an obliteration, interlineation or other alteration to a will generally has no effect unless it is signed and witnessed like the will itself. In plain terms, a pen mark on your own will usually changes nothing.
We also see codicils that contradict the will they amend, and homemade edits that cancel more than intended. Where the person removed is a close relative, a short letter of wishes explaining your decision can help. It is not binding, but it gives context if the estate is ever challenged. Our guide to writing a will and our fixed-fee pricing show how a properly drafted will or codicil is prepared.
Can a removed beneficiary still make a claim?
Yes, in some cases. Removing someone does not always end the matter. Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, a spouse, civil partner, former partner, child, or someone you were maintaining may ask the court for provision from your estate. Such a claim must usually be brought within six months of the grant of probate.
You cannot contract out of the 1975 Act or block a claim with a clause in your will. You can reduce the risk. Some people leave a modest legacy rather than nothing, sometimes on condition the beneficiary does not bring a claim, so they must weigh a certain smaller gift against the cost of court.
Whether a claim would succeed depends on the person's circumstances and their relationship to you, so advice on your own situation is often worthwhile. Our estate planning overview shows how a will fits the wider plan, alongside our inheritance tax guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can an executor remove a beneficiary from a will?
No. An executor must carry out the will as written and cannot remove or reduce a beneficiary's share. Only the living will-maker, with mental capacity, can remove a beneficiary. After death the gift stands unless the will is successfully challenged or the beneficiaries agree to vary it.
Can I remove a beneficiary from my will without telling them?
Yes. You do not have to tell a beneficiary you have removed them, and your will stays private during your lifetime. It becomes public only if a grant of probate is later needed. A private note of your reasons can still help your executors.
Can you remove a beneficiary from a will after the person has died?
The will-maker cannot, as they can no longer change their will. The beneficiaries can, however, agree to redirect gifts by a deed of variation, usually within two years of the death, if everyone affected consents. This does not override the deceased's wishes without agreement.
Do I have to give a reason for removing someone from my will?
No. You are free to leave someone out without explanation. Where the person is a close relative or dependant, a short letter of wishes setting out your reasons can give helpful context if the estate is later challenged under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Can I just cross a beneficiary's name out of my will?
No. Crossing out a name or writing in the margin generally has no legal effect under section 21 of the Wills Act 1837, unless the change is itself signed and witnessed. It can also make the gift unclear. Use a proper codicil or a new will.