What is the effect of alterations made to a will after its execution?

Alterations made to a will after its execution must comply with legal requirements to ensure their validity. Generally, these changes need to be executed with the same formalities required for the creation of the original will, which often means they must be signed and witnessed in accordance with state laws. If alterations do not meet these prerequisites, they could be deemed invalid, and the original provisions of the will remain in effect.

Simply making changes to a will without re-executing it according to the necessary legal standards does not confer legal effect to those alterations. This is crucial to maintain the testator's intentions as clearly expressed in the original document, as informal changes may lead to ambiguity and disputes among heirs or beneficiaries regarding the testator's wishes. Thus, re-execution with proper formalities is essential to validate any alterations made after the initial execution of the will.