{"id":2368,"date":"2026-11-12T03:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T03:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/two-wills-codicil-which-counts-bc\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T03:05:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T03:05:27","slug":"two-wills-codicil-which-counts-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/two-wills-codicil-which-counts-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Two wills, or a will and a codicil: which one counts in BC?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 11, 2026<\/p>\n

Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 11, 2026: the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (ss. 37, 55, 56, 58, 59) checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Usually the later will wins<\/strong>, but only to the extent it is inconsistent with the earlier one, unless it says it revokes all earlier wills.<\/p>\n

A codicil<\/strong> is a document that changes part of a will. The will and codicil are read together.<\/p>\n

Before probate:<\/strong> the application must include every testamentary document that is in force, and the registry must be told about earlier ones.<\/p>\n

How BC decides<\/a> \u00b7 Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The lawyers who handle these estate files<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
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Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and practises probate, estate litigation and immigration. He has represented clients in the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia, from chambers applications to contested trials.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is a probate, estates and immigration lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

When a family finds two wills, or a will and one or more codicils, the question is which documents together make up the person’s last will. Under BC’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act, a will can be revoked by a later will, by a written declaration signed like a will, or by the will-maker destroying it with the intention to revoke. A later will revokes an earlier one only to the extent the two are inconsistent, unless it expressly revokes all earlier wills, as most professionally drafted wills do. A codicil doesn’t replace the will; it changes part of it, and the two are read together. If the later document wasn’t signed properly, the court may still give it effect, or it may be invalid and leave the earlier will in place.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, a probate and estate litigation law firm with offices in Surrey<\/a>, Abbotsford<\/a> and Vancouver, BC, helps families work out which will governs and resolves disputes over competing wills; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

How BC decides which will counts<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Common situations<\/caption>\n
What you found<\/th>\nUsual result<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A later will that says “I revoke all former wills”<\/td>\nThe later will governs entirely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A later will with no revocation clause<\/td>\nThe earlier will survives except where the later one is inconsistent; both may be probated together<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A will plus a codicil<\/td>\nRead together; the codicil changes only what it says<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A later document not signed or witnessed properly<\/td>\nInvalid unless the court cures it under WESA s. 58; otherwise the earlier will stands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A later will, but evidence the will-maker lacked capacity or was influenced<\/td>\nThe later will can be challenged; if it fails, the earlier will may govern<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

How a will is revoked under WESA<\/h2>\n

Under WESA s. 55, a paper will, or part of it, can be revoked by:<\/p>\n