Terminology used in Wills
A bequest is a gift in the form of personal property.
A codicil is an amendment to a will.
A devise is special gift of real property in a will.
A devisee is a person who receives a devise.
A legacy is a gift. Historically, a legacy has referred to either a gift of real property or personal property.
A legatee is a person who receives a legacy.
A demonstrative legacy (sometimes referred to as a specific legacy or specific gift) is a gift of a specific item of tangible or intangible personal property, such as a bank account, shares of stock, a bond, etc.
Probate is the legal process of settling the estate of a deceased person.
To die testate means having created a will before death. A person who has not created a will prior to death is said to be intestate.
A testator is a person who executes a will; that is, the person whose will it is. The antiquated English term of testatrix was used to refer to a female but is generally no longer in standard legal usage.
An executor or personal representative [PR] is the person designated to administer the estate, generally subject to the supervision of the probate court, in accordance with the testator's wishes in the will. In most cases, the testator will nominate an executor/PR in the will unless that person is unable or unwilling to serve.
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