In five pages this paper defines and discusses a codicil in terms of its purpose and function and why it may be added to an existing will with examples included. Two sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: AM2_PPwillCd.rtf
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The topic of death is not one which is favored as casual conversation. It is a topic, however, with which
we are confronted on an almost daily basis. From television depictions of the subject to the loss of a close loved one, we become constantly reacquainted with the subject.
Preparation for death involves a number of issues ranging from the spiritual to the legal. The preparation of a valid will, for example, is almost mandatory in todays
complex world. Even with that task completed, however, we can not always rest easy in regard to the question of whether our estate will be distributed as we wish
at our death. The preparation of a will does not bring life to a standstill. Indeed, many things may change regarding our property or our wishes in even
just a short period of time. Fortunately, it is not necessary to go to the full expense and effort of preparing a new will with each of these changes.
Often, in fact, the completion of a codicil is sufficient to cover the changes which we wish to incorporate in our will. Simply put, a codicil is a
legal document which makes an addition or change to an existing will (United Animal Nations, 2002). Although the exact legalities of
a codicil vary from state to state, it is in actuality a quite simple document. In some states, California for example, it can consist of just a signed
and dated handwritten document (United Animal Nations, 2002). While such a document might be legal in some states, however, in others the format is somewhat more rigid. Most