Deed of variation

The terms of a will can be varied by agreement among the beneficiaries so that the residue of an estate passes on different terms than those included in the will. This is known as a deed of variation. These are often used to improve the inheritance tax position of the estate.

The deed

A gift from the estate of a deceased person can be disclaimed or varied, for example, passed on to the next generation, within two years of the deceasd’s death. You can use our Deed of Variation, which must be signed by all the beneficiaries and witnessed, to achieve this.