A will conveys the deceased person’s final wishes, and it is commonly believed that a will is irrevocable after death. However, if everyone is in agreement, it is usually possible to change a will if the request is made within two years of the decedent’s demise.
A Deed of Family Arrangement, or DFA (also known as a Deed of Variation), is a legal document that can be used to’rewrite’ provisions of a will. Originally designed to protect dependents from unjust deprivation, these are now primarily used to reduce inheritance tax.
A DFA must be made in writing and signed by all beneficiaries who would lose entitlement to the affected portion of the decedent’s estate for it to be valid. If this affects a person under the age of eighteen, court approval may be required.
