16Effect of marriage or registration of deed of relationship on a will

### 16 Effect of marriage or registration of deed of relationship on a will > > (1)  A will is revoked by – > > > > > > (a) the marriage of the testator; or > > > > > > > (b) the registration of a deed of relationship under [Part 2 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#HP2@EN) [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) to which the testator is a party. > > > (2)  However, the following are not revoked by the marriage of the testator or the registration of a deed of relationship under [Part 2 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#HP2@EN) [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) to which the testator is a party: > > > > > > (a) a disposition to the person to whom the testator is married or with whom the testator is in a registered relationship at the time of his or her death; > > > > > > > (b) any appointment as executor, trustee, advisory trustee or guardian of the person to whom the testator is married or with whom the testator is in a registered relationship at the time of his or her death; > > > > > > > (c) a will made in exercise of a power of appointment, if the property so appointed would not pass to the executor of the will or the administrator of the deceased person's estate if the power of the appointment was not exercised. > > > (3)  A will made in contemplation of a marriage or the registration of a deed of relationship under [Part 2 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#HP2@EN) [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) , whether or not that contemplation is expressed in the will, is not revoked by the solemnisation of the marriage contemplated or the registration of the deed of relationship contemplated. > > > (4)  A will that is expressed to be made in contemplation of marriage generally or the registration of a deed of relationship under [Part 2 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#HP2@EN) [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) is not revoked by the solemnisation of a marriage of the testator or the registration of a deed of relationship to which the testator is a party. > > > (5)  In this section – > > > > > ***registered relationship*** means a personal relationship within the meaning of the [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) registered under that Act.