Administrators (trix) (male/female) -
(or personal representative)

person appointed by the Surrogate Court to manage and distribute the estate of a person who died without a will; one appointed by the court to act for a decedent who left no will.

Beneficiary

Person named to receive property or bequest; one designated to receive something.

Caveat

An action to prevent a will from being probated, which is filed with the Surrogate's office prior to judgment of probate being issued.

Codicil

A separate writing made after a will to change the provisions; a written amendment to change a will.

Decedent

a deceased person

Devise

Gift of real estate by Will.

Estate

Everything owned by a person, all real and personal property; all of the property of a decedent, minor or incapacitated person, that can be passed on to another.

Executor/Executrix (male/female) - (or personal representative)

Person or institution named in a Will to carry out the provisions and directions of the Will; person named by a testator to carry out provisions of a will.

Fiduciary

Legal status accorded to person acting in particular relationship to others, based upon good faith, loyalty and confidence. Includes executor(trix), administrator (trix), personal representative and trustee.

Heirs

Persons who inherit, including the surviving spouse, who are entitled to receive the property of the decedent under laws of intestacy.

Holographic Will

One written wholly in handwriting of the testator.

Issue

All lineal descendants, natural or adopted, of all generations, with the relationship of parent and child at each generation being determined by the definition of child and parent.

Intestate

When a person dies without a Will.

Next-of-Kin

Relative(s) sharing in an estate by statue of distribution.

Personal Property

Intangible property such as stocks, bonds, or bank accounts; and tangible property such as furniture, automobile, jewelry.

Personal Representative

Person who acts for another in representing legal interests, such as an executor(trix) or administrator(trix).

Personalty

Movable things, personal property identified by the testator in a will, codicil or letter/list for distribution by the Executor.

Probate

Official proof of the validity of a Will.

Self Proving Will

A will that has an acknowledgment by the testator and affidavits of the witnesses, each made before an officer authorized by the Court to take acknowledgments.

Testator(trix)

Person who makes a Will; one (male/female) who executes a Will.

Trust

Property owned and managed by one person for the benefit of another.

Will

Legal declaration of the division of an estate; written instrument by which a person makes disposition of his property to take effect upon his death.

Witness

Person who observes the signing of a Will and also attests to the signatures.