Don’t let legal jargon overwhelm you. Here are seven basic terms to help you navigate the legal language most often used immediately after the loss of your husband.
- Decedent – The person who has died. Another word for the deceased.
- Probate - The court process by which a Will is proved valid or invalid. The legal process wherein the estate of a decedent is administered and property is distributed to the heirs.
- Will – A document stating what someone wants to happen to their belongings after their death, who the executor of the Will should be, and what should happen at the funeral of the person writing the Will. A valid document is dated and has the signature of the decedent and two witnesses.
- Executor or Executrix – Person appointed to administer the estate of the person who has died.
- Estate – Everything a person owns at the time they die. The total property that is owned by a decedent prior to the distribution of that property in accordance with the terms of a Will, or when there is no Will, by the laws of inheritance in the state of domicile of the decedent.
- Codicil – An amendment to a Will, written and signed in the same way as the original Will and referring to the original Will.
- Intestate – The term used when someone dies without making or leaving a valid Will. This usually is voiced as “he died intestate,” “intestate estate,” or “intestate succession.”
You should discuss any legal matters with the appropriate professional.
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