Probate Glossary

When it comes to probate and inheritance, most heirs don’t have much knowledge about either process or what’s involved. As an inheritor, it’s essential to know the ins and outs of settling an estate through probate and securing an inheritance. With a greater understanding of these concepts, beneficiaries can more easily follow along in the asset distribution process. If you’re in line to receive an inheritance, be sure to learn about some of the main terms associated with probate.

A
Administrator

A person or institution appointed by the court (in the absence of a will otherwise naming an executor) to distribute the assets according to state intestacy laws and to pay creditors and taxes. The intestate personal representative.

Affidavit

A written statement made under oath.

Age of majority

The age when a person acquires all the rights and responsibilities of being an adult. In most states the age of majority is 18.

Assignment

The transfer of legal rights from one person to another.

Authentication

The process for verifying that the deceased’s last will and testament is valid. The probate court typically relies on witness statements when making its determination.

B
Beneficiary

A person who inherits property, money or other benefits from a will, insurance policy or trust.

Bond

A court-mandated posting bond serves as a guarantee that the executor of the deceased’s estate will adhere to state laws and the terms of the will or trust.

C
Capital gain

The profit made from the sale of a capital asset, such as real estate, jewelry, or stocks and bonds.

Capital loss

The loss that results from the sale of a capital asset, such as real estate, jewelry or stocks and bonds.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy

A type of bankruptcy in which a person keeps their assets and pays creditors according to an approved plan.

Codicil: An amendment to a will.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy

A type of bankruptcy in which a person’s assets are liquidated (collected and sold) and the proceeds are distributed to the creditors.

Common-law marriage

In some states, a couple is considered married if they meet certain requirements, such as living together as spouses for a specific length of time. Such a couple has all the rights and obligations of a traditionally married couple.

Community property

Property acquired by a couple during their marriage. Some states divide everything the couple gains after getting married evenly between them. In the event of divorce or death, the property is split 50-50 with no consideration of which partner paid for the asset or holds it in their name.

Conservator

Person or institution a court appoints to protect the interests of an incompetent and act on their behalf as a guardian.

Contract

An agreement between two or more parties in which an offer is made and accepted, and each party benefits. The agreement can be formal, informal, written, or oral. Some contracts are required to be in writing in order to be enforced.

Creditor

A person (or institution) to whom money is owed.

Creditors’ claims period

Specific time frame, as defined by state probate laws, during which creditors can file a claim against a decedent’s estate.

Custodian

A person who will dispense and manage funds on behalf of a child. This person is not subject to court supervision or accounting requirements under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.

D
Date of death

The specific date and time the deceased is declared legally dead by a physician, coroner or medical examiner. It can also be the date that an individual disappears under life-threatening circumstances.

Debtor

Person who owes money.

Decedent

Person who passed away.

Default

The failure to fulfill a legal obligation, such as neglecting to pay back a loan on schedule.

Docket number

Number designation assigned to each case filed in a particular court.

E
Easement

An agreement that allows one party access to another’s property, often used by utilities that must run phone lines or pipes under private property.

Elective share

A probate law enabling a spouse to inherit a specific portion of the estate after their partner’s death regardless of a will.

Emancipation

The point at which a minor becomes independent from their guardians. Emancipation can result from turning 18, proving to be entirely self-supporting or getting married.

Encumbrance

Any claim or restriction on a property’s title.

Escrow

Money or documents, such as a deed or title, held by a third party until the conditions of an agreement are met. For instance, pending the completion of a real estate transaction, the deed to the property will be held “in escrow.”

Escrow account

A special account in which a lawyer or escrow agent deposits money or documents that do not belong to the lawyer or the law firm.

Estate

The assets and liabilities left by a decedent.

Ex parte

Latin that means “by or for one party.” Refers to situations in which only one party appears before a judge.

Executor

A person or institution named in a will and appointed by the court to oversee and manage an estate, including the distribution of assets and satisfaction of creditors and taxes.

F
Family limited partnership

A legal partnership between members of a family for the management and control of property.

Fiduciary duty

An obligation to act in the best interest of another party. For instance, a corporation’s board member has a fiduciary duty to the shareholders, a trustee has a fiduciary duty to the trust’s beneficiaries, and an attorney has a fiduciary duty to a client.

Foreclosure

When a borrower cannot repay a loan and the lender seeks to sell the property.

G
Grantor

The person who sets up a trust.

Guardian

Person appointed by the court to take care of minor children or incompetent adults.
Sometimes called a conservator.

Guardian ad litem

Latin for “guardian at law.” The person appointed by the court to look out for the best interests of the child during the course of legal proceedings.

H
Heir

Person entitled to inherit property of the decedent.

Holographic will

A handwritten will.

I
Intestate

Dying without a legal will.

Irrevocable trust

A trust written during a person’s lifetime that does not allow them to modify its contents.

J
Joint and survivor annuity

A form of pension fund payment in which the retired participant gets a check every month. If and when the participant dies, the spouse continues to get a monthly check equal to one-half of the benefit for the rest of their life.

Joint tenancy

A way to title (own) property where each person (tenant) owns an undivided interest. When one tenant dies, their interest passes to the survivor.

L
Legatee

A person named in a will who will inherit property, synonymous with a beneficiary.

Lien

A claim against someone’s property. A lien is instituted in order to secure payment from the property owner in the event that the property is sold. A mortgage is a common lien.

Living trust

A trust made — and in the case of revocable living trusts, changed — while the maker is alive. Irrevocable trusts cannot be modified.

Living will

A document outlining the maker’s wishes for specific circumstances, such as when they must receive medical treatment or are on life-support.

M
Marital exemption

A tax provision that allows an unlimited amount of property of one spouse to transfer to the other upon death without incurring estate or gift tax.

Minor

According to most state laws, a person under 18. Minors do not have adults’ legal rights until they reach the age of majority and gain the relevant responsibilities.

N
Next of kin

The deceased’s closing living blood relatives, including spouses and adopted family members.

Notary public

A person authorized to witness the signing of documents.

P
Pension plan

An employer’s program for providing retirement income to eligible employees.

Per stirpes

Latin for “by familial stocks.” Distribution of an estate equally among the members of a group of descendants having a particular degree of kinship (as children), with the issue (that is, the offspring) of a deceased member of that group representing the deceased member, taking the deceased member’s share, and dividing it equally among themselves. For example, if a decedent had three children, one of whom had already died leaving issue, the estate would be divided into thirds, with each living child receiving a one-third share, and the issue (children) of the deceased child dividing a one-third share equally amongst themselves.

Personal representative

A person who manages the legal affairs of a decedent in probate. If the decedent had a will, then the personal representative is known as the Executor (if the Executor is female, Executrix). If the decedent did not have a will and the assets are being distributed according to laws of intestacy, then the personal representative is known as the Administrator (if the Administrator is a female, Administratrix).

Petition for probate

The probate court document that summarizes a will’s provisions and names the heirs.

Power of attorney

The authority to act legally for another person.

Probate

The court supervised process whereby a decedent’s assets are distributed to a decedent’s heirs and creditors are paid back after s/he passes away.

Promissory note

A document in which a borrower agrees (promises) to pay back money to a lender according to specified terms.

Q
Quitclaim deed

A deed that transfers the owner’s interest to a buyer but does not guarantee that there are other claims against the property.

R
Real property

A piece of land and anything considered part of it. For example, a home falls under real property, while a dining room set is personal property.

Residuary estate

The amount of the decedent’s estate left over after property bequeathed to heirs has been distributed.

Residuary legatee

The person or persons named in a will to receive any residue left in an estate after the bequests of specific items are made.

Retainer

Refers to the up front payment a client gives a lawyer to accept a case. The client is paying to “retain” the lawyer’s services.

Revocable trust

A legal document that may be changed or cancelled that allows you to maintain control of your assets. It is used to avoid probate and for estate planning purposes.

Right of survivorship

A co-owner’s right to the property if the other co-owner in a join-tenancy dies. The co-owner cannot give away their share.

S
Self-proving will

A will signed in a notary public’s presence with a witness’s sworn statement.

Spendthrift trust

A trust designed to keep money out of the hands of creditors, often established to protect someone who is incapable of managing their financial affairs.

Spousal right

The entitlement of one spouse to inherit property from the other spouse. The right varies from state to state.

Statutory fees

In many states and in the majority of probate matters, the amount an attorney can charge for their services is specified by law as a percentage of the gross value of the estate.

T
Tangible personal property

Anything other than real estate or money, including furniture, cars, jewelry, etc.

Tenancy in common

A joint ownership agreement in which one party can bequeath or sell their share without obtaining consent from the other owners. If an owner dies without a will, their share will go to their heirs rather than to the other owners under the joint ownership.

Testamentary trust

A trust created by a will’s provisions, typically created after the will’s writer passes away.

Testate

Having a legal will.

Testator

The person who makes a will.

Title

Ownership of property.

Totten trust

A bank account in your name for which you name a beneficiary. Upon the death of the named holder of the account the money transfers automatically to the beneficiary.

Trustee

The entity who will manage or oversee a trust.

W
Will

A legal document that directs the distribution of assets upon death.

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