3,967
edits
Glossary of United States Probate Terms: Difference between revisions
Glossary of United States Probate Terms (view source)
Revision as of 13:59, 30 September 2010
, 30 September 2010terms added
(wills added) |
(terms added) |
||
| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
'''Claims - ''' ''Claims'' are the petitions, registers, accounts, or appeals files with the court. | '''Claims - ''' ''Claims'' are the petitions, registers, accounts, or appeals files with the court. | ||
'''Codicil -''' A ''codicil'' is an addendum to a will. | '''Codicil -''' A ''codicil'' is an addendum to a will. (See ''will''.)<br> | ||
'''Committee -''' A ''committee'' is a group of people charged with specific duties for a limited time. | '''Committee -''' A ''committee'' is a group of people charged with specific duties for a limited time. | ||
| Line 60: | Line 60: | ||
'''Decedent -''' The ''decedent'' is the person who is deceased. | '''Decedent -''' The ''decedent'' is the person who is deceased. | ||
'''Decree''' - A ''decree'' is the judicial decision of the court. | |||
'''Degree of relationship -''' This is a legal term referring to the ''degree'' (generations) of two persons who descend from a common ancestor but not one from the other. | '''Degree of relationship -''' This is a legal term referring to the ''degree'' (generations) of two persons who descend from a common ancestor but not one from the other. | ||
| Line 119: | Line 121: | ||
'''Legator -''' The ''legator'' is the person giving personal property by way of a will. (See ''devisor'' or ''testator''.) | '''Legator -''' The ''legator'' is the person giving personal property by way of a will. (See ''devisor'' or ''testator''.) | ||
'''Letters of | '''Letters of administration -''' ''Letters of Administration'' refers to the formal document from the court granting authority to handle the affairs of the estate. | ||
'''Letters testamentary''' - ''Letters testamentary'' is the document approving the appointment of an executor and authorizing that person to administer the estate. | |||
'''Lineal - '''''Lineal''means being in a direct line from a male or female ancestor. | '''Lineal - '''''Lineal'' means being in a direct line from a male or female ancestor. | ||
'''Locus sigilli (L.S.) - '''''Locus sigilli'' is Latin, meaning "in place of the seal." | '''Locus sigilli (L.S.) - '''''Locus sigilli'' is Latin, meaning "in place of the seal." | ||
| Line 130: | Line 134: | ||
'''Minor - '''A ''minor'' is a person who has not yet reached full legal age. | '''Minor - '''A ''minor'' is a person who has not yet reached full legal age. | ||
'''Minutes''' - ''Minutes'' are the notes made of the probate court proceedings. | |||
'''Mystic will''' - The ''mystic will'' is from French tradition (Louisiana). A person goes to a notary (like a lawyer), and writes the will in the presence of two to three witnesses and the notary. The person then puts the will in an envelope and seals it. The witnesses don't sign the will, but they do sign that he put it in the envelope. (See ''will''.)<br> | '''Mystic will''' - The ''mystic will'' is from French tradition (Louisiana). A person goes to a notary (like a lawyer), and writes the will in the presence of two to three witnesses and the notary. The person then puts the will in an envelope and seals it. The witnesses don't sign the will, but they do sign that he put it in the envelope. (See ''will''.)<br> | ||
| Line 173: | Line 179: | ||
'''Relict -''' A ''relict'' is a widow or widower. | '''Relict -''' A ''relict'' is a widow or widower. | ||
'''Relinquishment -''' | '''Relinquishment -''' ''R''''elinquishment'' is to waive one's rights. (See ''renunciation''.)<br> | ||
'''Renunciation''' - ''Renunciation'' is to waive one's rights. (See ''relinquishment''.) | |||
'''Settlements -''' ''Settlements'' are the final accounting of the estate and how it was distributed. (See ''final account''.) | '''Settlements -''' ''Settlements'' are the final accounting of the estate and how it was distributed. (See ''final account''.) | ||
| Line 207: | Line 215: | ||
'''Widow's election -''' A ''widow's election'' is the widow's right to either accept what was granted to her by her husband's will or to accept the share granted to her by state statute. | '''Widow's election -''' A ''widow's election'' is the widow's right to either accept what was granted to her by her husband's will or to accept the share granted to her by state statute. | ||
'''Will -''' Technically, a ''will'' is the document in which the testator distributes (devises) real property. This term is often used in place of "last will and testament." (See article on [[United States Probate Wills|Wills]] for more information.) (See also: ''conjoint will'', ''holographic will'', ''joint will'', ''nuncupative will'', ''mystic will'', ''unofficious will'', or ''unsolemn will''.)<br> | '''Will -''' Technically, a ''will'' is the document in which the testator distributes (devises) real property. This term is often used in place of "last will and testament." (See article on [[United States Probate Wills|Wills]] for more information.) (See also: ''codicil, conjoint will'', ''holographic will'', ''joint will'', ''nuncupative will'', ''mystic will'', ''unofficious will'', or ''unsolemn will''.)<br> | ||
'''Witness -''' A ''witness'' is a person who attests to actions or events personally seen. | '''Witness -''' A ''witness'' is a person who attests to actions or events personally seen. | ||