What term refers to an amendment to a will?

• A. Codicil
• B. Preamble
• C. Pretermitted Heir
• D. Pretermitted Child

Answer: (A)

A codicil is an amendment to a will. It lets you change, add, or revoke specific provisions without drafting a whole new will. For a codicil to be valid, it must be executed with the same testamentary formalities as the original will—typically signed and witnessed—and it should be kept with the will so the changes are clear and enforceable. When read together, the codicil and the original will illustrate the current testamentary plan, and the language of the codicil governs the changes it describes. If there’s any inconsistency, the codicil’s provisions generally take precedence over the prior language to the extent of the modification.

Terms like pretermitted heir or pretermitted child refer to individuals who were unintentionally omitted from a will and are addressed by specific rules or statutes, not by amending the will. A preamble is merely introductory language to a document and does not alter its substantive terms.