The Law Dictionary for Everyone
A testator is a person who creates a will. Commonly, a female who makes a will is referred to as a “testatrix,” though some do not follow this formal title. A will is a document that someone can create either himself, or with the help of an attorney, that dictates who will inherit his property and assets upon his death. […]
Read moreThe Latin term per stirpes is commonly used in estate planning to describe how a person making a will would like his assets to be distributed. In case a family beneficiary dies before the will’s owner, a per stirpes distribution means that person’s portion of the assets go directly to that beneficiary’s heirs. There are other options if the will’s […]
Read moreA pour over will is an estate planning tool used in conjunction with a trust. Creating a trust to hold an individual’s assets for distribution after death has many advantages, including tax advantages. Depending on their circumstances, some people choose not to transfer all of their property into their trust, and many people simply forget to transfer newly acquired assets […]
Read moreA living trust is a legal document that spells out an individual’s wishes concerning his or her assets, dependents, and other affairs, which are to be handled by another person, called a “trustee.” A trust is created by the individual, called a “Trustor,” at any point during his life, appointing a trustee, and detailing what is to be dealt with, […]
Read moreA Last Will and Testament, now most commonly referred to simply as a “Will,” is a legal document in which an individual records his wishes as to how his possessions and affairs should be handled after his death. The individual making the Will may specify, for example, who should take custody of his children, and which heirs should be given […]
Read moreAn heir is a person entitled to inherit property and other assets from an individual who has died, based on the rules of descent and distribution, according to state laws. An heir is usually the spouse or child of the decedent, but if neither of these exist, it can be another close relative. In modern times, the term heir is […]
Read moreAn executor is an individual entrusted with the duties and responsibilities of taking care of a person’s earthly affairs after death. In simple terms, the term executor refers to the person named or nominated by an individual, called the “testator,” to carry out his or her wishes as stated in a will. An executor of an estate has many other […]
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