Glossary of Legal Terms
Administrator, Administratrix (also known as Personal Representative)
Person or institution appointed by the court to manage and distribute the estate of a person who dies without a will.
Beneficiary
Person named to receive property or benefits.
Codicil
An addition or supplement made to change or add provisions to a will.
Contingent beneficiary
Receiver or property or benefits if first-named beneficiary dies before receiving all benefits.
Contract
Legally enforceable agreement.
Decedenta
A deceased person.
Devise
To give real or Personal Property.
Estate
Everything a person owns, all real and personal property owned.
Executor, Executrix (also known as a Personal Representative)
A person or institution named in the will to carry out the provisions and directions of the will.
Intestate
A person who dies without making a valid will.
Legatee
Person who receives personal property under a will.
Levied
To collect by assessment.
Lien
A charge upon property, real or personal, for the satisfaction of a debt.
Personal property
Intangible property, such as stocks, bonds, or bank accounts; and tangible property such as furniture, automobile, jewelry.
Probate
Official proof of the genuineness of a will.
Real Property
Land and buildings.
Surrogate
A judicial officer who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills in the absence of a contest and acts as the Clerk of the Probate Court in the settlement of estates, guardianships, and trusts.
Tenants in common
Two or more persons owning individual interests in property.
Testator, Testatrix
The person who makes a will.
Trust
Property owned and managed by one person for the benefit of another.
Trustee
Person or institution holding property in trust.
Waiver
A legal instrument relinquishing a right or lien.
Will
A legal declaration of the manner in which a person wishes his estate divided after death.
Witness
Person who observed the signing of a will and also attests to the signatures.