Will Writing Glossary
Administrator
A person appointed to deal with the estate of a person who has either died intestate or without naming a valid executor.
Advance Decision
In case you become too ill or severely incapacitated to express your wishes about the type of treatment you want to have or to refuse, you can express them in advance in this type of document.
Assets
These represent everything that a person owns. This can include property, land, shares and cash.
Attestation clause
This is the statement in a Will before the signatures verifying that both the Testator and witnesses are present at the signing.
Beneficiary
Any person who benefits from a Will.
Deceased
A dead person
Estate
The total property of a deceased person.
Executor
The person named in a Will to administer the estate.
Inheritance Tax
The tax payable on the estate of a deceased person should the assets be above a nil - band threshold.
Intestate
A person who dies without having made a Will.
Lasting Power of Attorney
A provision for decisions to be made on behalf of those who lack mental capacity.
Probate
The process of officially proving the validity of a Will.
Revoke
The legal term for cancelling a Will.
Testator
The person who makes the Will.
Trust
A legal arrangement where a person (the Trustee) holds an asset for the benefit of one legally to it.
Trustee
A person nominated to deal with a Trust.
Will Trust
A legal instrument, used in a Will, to ensure that certain assets are held for and distributed to chosen beneficiaries.