Cogan & Associates Inc. International Estate Research North America

Glossary of Legal Terms Administrator\Administratrix: A person appointed to the Courts to distribute the estate of a person who died without a Will. Beneficiary: A person designated as the recipient of funds or other property under a Will. Decedent: The deceased person. Dependents Relief Act: Ontario law permitting a spouse or child to obtain benefits from an estate if not provided for in the Will. Encroach: Paying out of money or assets held in trust to a beneficiary. Estate File: Contains all documents needed to grant Letters of Probate of Letters of Administration, includes the petition for probate or administration, the original Will, oaths of executors or administrators, tally of assets, and related evidence. Executor/Executrix: Man/woman named in a Will to distribute the estate. Heir: A person who inherits the property of a deceased person, as by descent, relationship, will or legal process. Intestate: When a person dies without having written a Will. Letters Probate: Court grant confirming the Executor named in a Will. Includes the official transcript of the Will. Life Interest: Benefits awarded by a Will to be enjoyed only during the beneficiary's life. Testate: A person, or act of dying with a Will Testator\Testatrix: A Man or woman who writes a Will Will: A deposition made before witnesses, outlining the deceased final wishes. May include later codicils (amendments)