Editing Will and testament (section)

=== Methods and effect ===
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2020}}
Intentional physical destruction of a will by the testator will revoke it, through deliberately burning or tearing the physical [[document]] itself, or by striking out the [[signature]]. In most jurisdictions, partial revocation is allowed if only part of the text or a particular provision is crossed out. Other jurisdictions will either ignore the attempt or hold that the entire will was actually revoked. A testator may also be able to revoke by the physical act of another (as would be necessary if he or she is physically incapacitated), if this is done in their presence and in the presence of witnesses. Some jurisdictions may presume that a will has been destroyed if it had been last seen in the possession of the testator but is found mutilated or cannot be found after their death.

A will may also be revoked by the execution of a new will. Most wills contain stock language that expressly revokes any wills that came before them, because otherwise a court will normally still attempt to read the wills together to the extent they are consistent.

In some jurisdictions, the complete [[revocation]] of a will automatically revives the next-most recent will, while others hold that revocation leaves the testator with no will, so that their heirs will instead inherit by [[intestate succession]].

In [[England and Wales]], [[marriage]] will automatically [[revocation|revoke]] a will, for it is [[Presumption|presumed]] that upon marriage a [[testator]] will want to review the will. A statement in a will that it is made in [[contemplation]] of forthcoming marriage to a named person will override this.

Divorce, conversely, will not revoke a will, but in many jurisdictions will have the effect that the former spouse is treated as if they had died before the testator and so will not benefit.

Where a will has been [[negligence|accidentally]] destroyed, on [[evidence]] that this is the case, a copy will or draft will may be admitted to [[probate]].