New York State Notary Practice Exam

What is an amendment made subsequent to a will called?

1. Will adjustment

2. Codicil

3. Testament

4. Legal addendum

The correct answer is: Codicil

The correct response is that an amendment made subsequent to a will is called a codicil. A codicil is a legal document that alters, adds to, or revokes part of an existing will. It is important as it allows the testator to modify their original testamentary document without having to completely rewrite the entire will. This can be particularly useful for making minor changes such as updating beneficiaries or altering bequests, while preserving the original will’s foundational structure. Regarding the other choices, a will adjustment is not a recognized legal term. A testament is another name for a will itself, particularly in a religious or formal context. A legal addendum generally refers to supplementary material or items added to a document, but it is not specifically used in the context of amending a will. Therefore, codicil is the correct term used in legal settings for this purpose.