Why Updates Matter
Your Islamic will is not a one-time document. Life changes, and your will should reflect your current circumstances, wishes, and family situation.
An outdated will can:
- Exclude people who should inherit
- Include people who shouldn't
- Distribute your estate in ways you no longer intend
- Appoint guardians who are no longer suitable
- Name executors who can't serve
- Miss new assets you've acquired
Regular reviews and updates ensure your will accurately reflects your current situation and wishes.
When to Review Your Islamic Will
You should review your Islamic will:
Regularly (Every 3-5 Years)
Even if nothing major has changed, review your will every few years to ensure it still makes sense.
After Major Life Events
Always review and update after:
- Marriage: Your new spouse should be included
- Birth of a child: New Faraid heirs and guardian appointments needed
- Divorce: Remove ex-spouse and reconsider all provisions
- Death of named person: Executor, guardian, or beneficiary passes away
- Remarriage: Especially complex if you have children from previous relationships
After Financial Changes
- Buying or selling property
- Significant increase in wealth
- Starting or selling a business
- Receiving large inheritance
- Major investments
After Relationship Changes
- Falling out with named executor or guardian
- Executors or guardians moving abroad
- Adult children changing circumstances dramatically
- Family member developing special needs
Common Life Changes and Islamic Will Impacts
Getting Married
Islamic perspective: Your spouse becomes a Faraid heir automatically entitled to their prescribed share (1/4 or 1/8 depending on whether you have children).
What to update:
- Include spouse as Faraid heir
- Recalculate all Faraid shares
- Consider spouse as executor (Wasi)
- Update emergency contacts
- Review Wasiyyah allocations
Having Children
Islamic perspective: Children are primary Faraid heirs. Sons receive double the share of daughters.
What to update:
- Add children as Faraid heirs
- Appoint guardians
- Consider educational trusts
- Adjust spouse's share (reduces from 1/2 to 1/4 for husbands, 1/4 to 1/8 for wives)
- Recalculate all existing heir shares
Divorce
Islamic perspective: Ex-spouse loses Faraid heir status after divorce is finalized.
What to update:
- Remove ex-spouse as beneficiary
- Remove ex-spouse as executor if applicable
- Recalculate Faraid shares without spouse portion
- If children from that marriage, ensure guardianship provisions are clear
- Update emergency contacts
Death of a Spouse
What to update:
- Remove deceased spouse
- Recalculate Faraid shares
- Consider remarriage possibilities in planning
- Update guardianship if spouse was co-guardian
- Review executor appointments
Death of a Child
What to update:
- Remove deceased child
- Consider grandchildren (grandchildren don't inherit automatically under Faraid if their parent is deceased, but you can provide for them via Wasiyyah)
- Recalculate remaining Faraid shares
- Emotional consideration – may want time before updating
Remarriage
Islamic perspective: New spouse becomes a Faraid heir. If you have children from previous marriage, this creates complex situation.
What to update:
- Include new spouse with appropriate Faraid share
- Ensure children from first marriage are protected
- Consider step-children (who don't inherit via Faraid but can via Wasiyyah)
- Possibly adjust Wasiyyah provisions
- Review guardian appointments for children
Changes to Executors and Guardians
When to Change Your Wasi (Executor)
Update if your chosen Wasi:
- Has passed away
- Is too elderly or unwell
- Has moved abroad (especially outside UK)
- Has financial or legal problems
- Your relationship with them has deteriorated
- No longer understands or respects Islamic principles
When to Change Guardians
Update if your chosen guardians:
- Have passed away or become seriously ill
- Have divorced (if you appointed a couple)
- Have moved far away
- Have had significant life changes affecting their ability to care for children
- Have developed issues (financial, health, relationship) that concern you
- Your children are now uncomfortable with them
- Have expressed unwillingness to continue
Financial and Asset Changes
Buying Property
What to consider:
- How is property owned (solely, jointly, tenants in common)?
- If joint ownership, does your will cover your share properly?
- Rental properties add to estate value – review Faraid calculations
Selling Property
What to consider:
- Remove specific bequests of that property
- Estate value changes may affect calculations
- Consider where sale proceeds went
Significant Wealth Increase
What to consider:
- One-third Wasiyyah allowance increases
- May want to increase charitable bequests
- Inheritance tax may become relevant (over £325,000)
- Consider additional trust structures
Starting a Business
What to consider:
- Business succession planning
- How will business shares be divided among heirs?
- May need specialist solicitor advice
- Consider life insurance to provide liquidity
How to Update Your Will
There are two ways to update your will:
1. Codicil (Small Changes)
A codicil is a legal document that makes minor changes to an existing will without rewriting it entirely.
Good for:
- Changing small amounts
- Adding or removing minor bequests
- Updating addresses
- Small Wasiyyah changes
Requirements:
- Must be in writing
- Must reference the original will
- Must be signed and witnessed (same as will)
Limitations:
- Can become confusing if multiple codicils
- Not suitable for major changes
2. New Will (Major Changes)
For significant changes, create a completely new will that revokes all previous wills.
Good for:
- Marriage, divorce, new children
- Changing executors or guardians
- Major financial changes
- Significant Faraid recalculations
- Clearer and less confusing than codicils
What happens:
- New will explicitly states it revokes all previous wills
- Old will becomes invalid
- All changes are in one clean document
Recommended: For most updates, especially Islamic wills where Faraid calculations change, a new will is clearer and safer.
The Update Process with WillsConnect
WillsConnect makes updating your Islamic will straightforward:
Within 30 Days of Creation
- Unlimited free updates
- Make any changes you need
- Download updated version anytime
- No additional charges
After 30 Days
- Log back into your account
- Review your existing will
- Make necessary changes
- Expert review of updated will
- Small update fee (much less than creating new will elsewhere)
Major Life Event Updates
If major life changes occur:
- Log into your WillsConnect account
- Access your existing will
- Update relevant sections
- System recalculates Faraid shares automatically
- Expert review ensures everything is correct
- Download new, dated version
- Properly execute (sign and witness) the new version
Islamic Considerations for Updates
Maintaining Faraid Compliance
When updating, always ensure:
- Fixed heirs still receive their prescribed shares
- Wasiyyah doesn't exceed one-third
- New family members are included as appropriate
- Calculations remain mathematically correct
Wasiyyah Adjustments
As your estate grows or shrinks:
- One-third cap changes in absolute terms
- You may want to adjust charitable giving
- Consider new causes or charities
- Review if previous Wasiyyah recipients still appropriate
Consulting Scholars
For complex updates, especially around:
- Blended families
- Adopted or step-children
- Non-Muslim family members
- Unusual circumstances
Consider consulting an Islamic scholar to ensure your updates remain Shariah-compliant.
What NOT to Do
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Don't handwrite changes on your will: This can invalidate it
- Don't cross out sections: Creates ambiguity and potential invalidity
- Don't assume small changes don't matter: Even minor updates need proper documentation
- Don't forget to sign and witness properly: Updates must follow same formalities as original
- Don't keep old and new wills together: Can create confusion; destroy old will
- Don't delay updates: Life changes should prompt immediate will review
Keeping Your Will Current
Make will reviews a regular habit:
Set Reminders
- Calendar reminder every 3 years to review will
- Review after each major life event
- Review when close family members pass away
Keep Information Accessible
- Store will in safe, known location
- Tell Wasi where it's kept
- Keep list of assets updated separately
- Update password-protected access information
Communicate Changes
- Inform your Wasi of updates
- Tell guardians if their role has changed
- Explain significant changes to adult children if appropriate
- Don't keep updates secret if they affect key people
Document Everything
- Keep notes on why you made changes
- This can help if will is challenged later
- Helps executors understand your reasoning
Take Action on Changes
If you're reading this and realize your will needs updating, don't delay:
- List what's changed since you created your will
- Decide what updates are needed
- Log into your WillsConnect account (or start new will if you don't have one)
- Make the updates systematically
- Review carefully before finalizing
- Execute properly – sign and witness
- Destroy old versions to avoid confusion
- Inform key people of updates
Your will should be a living document that grows and changes with you. Keep it current, and you'll have peace of mind that your family is always protected according to your latest wishes.
Update your Islamic will with WillsConnect today.