Glossary Of Common Probate Terms
The intent of this glossary is to provide individuals going through probate with a general understanding of terms commonly used in Probate Law and their application. The definitions within this document are not comprehensive and are not intended to serve as a substitute for independent research of the law or for a probate attorney. We have however, reviewed the terms and we have worked with members of the law to check and review our content to provide you with the best and most up to date information. We believe that probate can be confusing and understanding the different terms is very important to navigate the process.
If you have any questions or would like to contribute to our glossary, please feel free to visit our contact page.
- Abate
- Abatement
- Abstract of Judgment
- Ademption
- Ad Litem
- Administrator with Will Annexed
- Adverse Possession
- Affiant
- Affidavit
- Age of majority
- Amended
- Amendment
- Ancillary Administration
- Annuitant
- Appearance
- Assets
- Assignment Of Inheritance
- Attestation
- Attestation Clause
- Attorney-in-Fact
- Beneficiary
- Bequeath
- Bequest
- Blocked Account
- Bypass Trust
- Capacity
- Capital Gains
- Capital loss
- Case Management Conference
- Certified Copy
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy
- Chattel
- Citation
- Codicil
- Commissioner
- Common-law marriage
- Community property
- Confidential Record
- Conflict of Interest
- Consent for Medical Treatment
- Conservatee
- Conservator
- Conservatorship
- Conservatorship Estate
- Contempt of Court
- Contestant
- Contested
- Contingent Beneficiary
- Court Investigator
- Creditor
- Creditor Claim During Probate
- Custodian
- Debtor
- Decedent
- Decision
- Declaration
- Decree
- Deed
- Default
- Demurrer
- Dependent
- Devise
- Devisee
- Directive to Physician
- Disbursements
- Distributee
- Docket number
- Donee
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Elective share
- Elisor
- Emancipation
- Encumbrance
- Equity
- Errata
- Escheat
- Escrow
- Escrow account
- Estate
- Estate Accounting
- Executor
- Exemplification
- Exhibit
- Ex parte
- Expense of Administration
- Fair Market Value
- Family limited partnership
- Fiduciary
- Fiduciary Duty
- Final Distribution
- Finding
- Foreclosure
- Form 1040
- Grantor
- Guardian
- Guardian ad litem
- Guardianship
- Heir
- Heiress
- Holographic Will
- Incapacity
- Inheritance Tax
- Interlineation
- Inter Vivos Trust
- Intestate
- Inventory and Appraisal
- Inventory of probate assets
- Irrevocable trust
- IRS Closing Transcripts
- Joinder
- Joint and survivor annuity
- Joint tenancy
- Judgment
- Judicial Council
- Judicial Officer
- Jurisdiction
- Kindred
- Legacy
- Legatee
- Letters of Administration
- Lien
- Life Estate
- Limited Conservatorship
- Living trust
- Living will
- Lodgement
- LPS Conservatorship
- Marital exemption
- Minor
- Motion in Limine
- Next of Kin
- Notary public
- Notice of Proposed Action
- Nunc Pro Tunc
- Nuncupative
- Order to Show Cause
- Payer
- Pecuniary
- Pension plan
- Personal Property
- Personal representative
- Per stirpes
- Petitioner
- Petition for probate
- Pleadings
- Points and Authorities
- Power of attorney
- Predeceased Spouse
- Pretermitted Heir
- Probate
- Probate Administrator
- Probate attorney
- Probate Bond
- Probate Court
- Probate Estate
- Probate Examiner
- Probate Petition
- Probate Sale
- Proof of Service
- Pro Tempore
- Public Administrator
- Public Record
- Quitclaim deed
- Real property
- Real Property
- Receipts In Probate
- Residuary estate
- Respondent
- Retainer
- Revocable trust
- Right of survivorship
- Sealed Record
- Self-proving will
- Small Estate
- Special Administrator
- Special Needs Trust
- Spendthrift trust
- Spousal right
- Standing
- Statutory fee
- Statutory Will
- Stipulation
- Sua Sponte
- Substituted Judgement
- Successor Fiduciary
- Surcharge Action
- Surety Bond
- Taxable Estate
- Tenancy in common
- Testamentary Disposition
- Testamentary trust
- Testate
- Testator
- Title
- Totten trust
- Trust
- Trust Accounting
- Trustee
- Trustor
- Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
- Ward
- Will
- Will Contest
- Writ of Execution