Will Forms legal documents for England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Administrator: a person appointed by court to deal with the estate of a person who has died and left no will.

Attestation clause: a statement at the end of a will which says that the will has been properly signed and witnessed.

Beneficiary: a person who inherits from a will.

Codicil: a document that modifies some part of a will but does not revoke it.

Estate: all the property of a deceased person.

Executor: a person appointed in the will to deal with the estate of a deceased person.

Guardian: a person appointed to care for children under 18.

Intestate: a person who dies without making a valid will.

Issue: all the lineal descendents of a person, that is, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on.

Joint property: property not in your sole name.

Minor: a person under 18 years of age.

Probate: legal proof that a will is valid so that authority can be given to the executors to deal with the estate.

Residuary gift: a gift of residue.

Residue: the remainder of the estate after debts, funeral expenses, administration costs and tax have been paid and all specific gifts distributed.

Specific gift: a gift of a particular item of property.

Testamentary: to do with wills, for example, testamentary expenses - the expenses incurred by your executors to carry out your instructions in your will.

Testator: the person making the will.

Trust: an arrangement to hold money or other property for the benefit of another person, such as a child.

Trustee: a person appointed to manage property that is held under a trust for the benefit of another person.

Will: the document in which you say what is to happen to your property after your death.

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