Yes, a registered will can be cancelled or revoked during the testator’s lifetime, provided the person making the will is legally competent and voluntarily decides to revoke it.
Under Indian law, registration does not make a will irrevocable. A testator can generally revoke a registered will by:
- Making a new will that expressly revokes the earlier will.
- Executing a formal revocation of the earlier will.
- Creating a subsequent valid will that is inconsistent with the previous one, to the extent of the inconsistency.
- In certain circumstances, destroying the original will with the intention of revoking it.
If a new valid will is made, it is generally the latest valid will that governs the distribution of the estate after death.
It is important to note that a will normally cannot be cancelled by beneficiaries or family members merely because they disagree with it. The testator has the right to change or revoke the will during their lifetime, subject to applicable law.
If there is a dispute about whether a registered will was properly revoked, was made under undue influence, or was otherwise invalid, the matter may have to be decided by a court based on the evidence and circumstances.
