Making A Will
Executors Duties
Online Wills
Will Solicitors
Legal Professionals
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Common Errors
Jargon Buster
Contesting A Will
Grant Of Probate
Executors Duties

A will writer may use any number of technical terms to describe what they are doing. When our solicitors are drafting a document they use modern precedents that have been written in plain English. You will not be bamboozled by legal jargon either on the telephone or in the documents supplied by us however it is important that you understand the meanings of certain unavoidable terms that often crop up in these legal documents.

Administrator

Is the person appointed by law to deal with your affairs if you die without a will. A potential beneficiary or family member usually applies to the Probate Registry to take on this responsibility. The equivalent position in cases where a will writer has intervened is that of ‘executor’.

Beneficiary

Is any person who receives something from an estate.

Codicil

Is an alteration or amendment usually carried out by a will writer.

Crown or Treasury or State

Effectively refers to the government. If your will writer has erred and the document is not valid or if you didn’t bother making one and you have no next of kin then the Crown/Treasury/State can claim your assets.

Estate

Refers to the aggregated value of everything you own at the time of your death, less any outstanding liabilities.

Executor/Executrix

Are the people you have appointed in your will to sort matters out for you. It’s important that you transmit to your will writer exactly who you want to act on your behalf in this important position.

Funeral Arrangements

These are the instructions that you give for carrying out your final wishes including interment, cremation, flowers, service etc.

Inheritance Tax

Is a government tax, imposed at a preset rate, that is paid by an estate once the current threshold is reached. There are certain exemptions and an experienced and competent will writer can thereby take advantage of the law and effectively reduce the potential tax burden.

Intestacy

Implies that the person has died without making a will.

Legacy

This refers to any gift made to a beneficiary that can consist of :-

• an object or property
• a sum of money
• the remainder of the money after everyone else and expenses have been paid
• a payment by installments for life
• a gift made provided certain conditions are met

Probate

Determination of the legality of the will enabling the appointment of an executor.

Testator/Testatrix

This refers to the male/female person making the will

Trust

Is usually an arrangement outlined in the document instructing someone (the trustee) to carry out certain actions sometimes at particular time or dates but more often at their own discretion.

Witness

For valid execution of a will, two witnesses, who are not beneficiaries, must sign the document both being present at the same time with the testator. A gift to a witness will be void.

Even if you have a current will you should review it at regular intervals to ensure that the instructions are in accordance with your wishes. We can carry out work on your behalf be it a new will, a codicil or amendment or a re-draft of an existing will. Our charges are reasonable and depend on the amount of work necessary to carry out your instructions. We are able to provide you with a quotation over the telephone and offer discounts for family wills or mirror wills for spouses.