Definitions of Legal Terms

Administrator: The person appointed by the courts to distribute the property of a person who leaves no Will.

Beneficiary: The person(s) who receive(s) benefits under the Will.

Bequeath: To give personal property in a Will.

Codicil: A document modifying, adding to, or qualifying a Will and forming an integral part of a Will.

Devise: To give real property in a Will

Estate: All the property, real and personal, owned by a person at the time of his/her death.

Executor/Exercutrix: The person named in a Will to distribute the property of the person who made the Will.

Legatee: The person to whom you leave your personal property

Probate: To prove, in court, that an instrument is truly the last Will and testament of a person.

Property: Property includes all those things and rights which are the object of ownership. Real property consists of land or anything attached to or a part of the land such as a house. All other property such as stocks, insurance, jewellery, is called personal property.

Testament: Another name for a Will. There is no legal distinction between a Will and a testament.

Testator: This is you, the person making the Will.