Can a Last Will originally created by a lawyer be updated with minor edits by a non-lawyer signed witnessed and notarized and be legal in NJ?

Answer 1

you don't need a lawyer if you follow all of the rules of setting up a will or codicil. I worry when you say "minor edits" - there is no such thing as a "minor" edit. You can delete things on an original, but you can't add things - you need a codicil for that. This is correct and I would add this. The procedure in NJ for admitting a will to probate is a simple administrative one. The will is brought to the Surrogate's office and if it is properly done, it will be admitted to probate. Hoever, when an original will has "minor edits" or almost anything written on it, the Surrogate is not permitted to probate that will. Such a will has to be brought into the Superior Court using the proper pleadings with witnesses explaining, if they can, what was done. The end result is that the will has now cost much much more to probate because of the legal fees taking the matter into court. Plus, as the answer above says, additions will not be honored but deletions will.

Answer 2

No. You cannot make any changes whatsoever on a previously fully executed Will. Any minor changes must be made in the form of a Codicil that has the same form as the Will and is attached thereto. When you alter a Will you may make it invalid and the court will treat the estate as though the testator had no Will.