A will expresses the final wishes of the deceased person and it is commonly thought that a will is irrevocable after death. However, provided everyone agrees, it is normally possible to vary a will provided that the application is made within two years of the death.
A Deed of Family Arrangement, or DFA, (also known as a Deed of Variation) is a legal document which can be used to 'rewrite' provisions of a will. While these were originally introduced to protect dependents from being unfairly deprived, they are now mainly used to reduce Inheritance Tax.
To be effective, a DFA must be made in writing and signed by all of the beneficiaries who would lose entitlement to the affected part of the deceased person’s estate. If this affects any person under age eighteen, it may require the formal approval of the court.
Changing Wills For Benefit
For more information or to speak to one of our experts, please call us on 01606 48777
"Extremely fair, understanding, caring and knowledgeable in all aspects of family law."
Mr P"Amazing attitude and caring towards its customers in life's most stressful situations."
Anonymous"Highly recommend the conveyancing services. Extremely satisfied with the overall level of service provided - kept me informed at every stage, providing good information and advice."
Heather Woolley"Excellent efficient will-writing service from very friendly staff. Everything explained to us so that we understood it. Fantastic!"
Jane Imisson