This section is aimed at turning complex Probate terminology into plain English:
Administrator: A person responsible for winding up the estate of a person who has died without a will.
Administrator Period: The time between the date of death and the date of the final estate accounts.
Beneficiaries: A person or a group of people who inherit either under a will or under the laws of intestacy certain gifts, money or property of the deceased.
Codicil: A legal document by which a person amends his will.
Disbursements: Payments made to third parties on your behalf. These include probate fees, court registry fees and land registry fees.
Estate Accounts: Accounts recording the financial transactions during the administration period.
Excepted Estate: An estate where no Inland Revenue account is necessary once certain conditions have been fulfilled.
Executor: A person appointed by a will or codicil to wind up the estate.
Grant of Representation: A Court Order from the Probate Registry authorising a person to deal with the assets of the deceased’s estate.
Intestacy: Where someone dies without making a will that completely disposes of all of their assets. The law of intestacy are governed by the Administrations of Estates Act 1925 and determine who inherits the deceased assets.
Legacy/Legacies: A gift of chattels/assets included in the will.
Personal Representative: An Executor or Administrator.
Probate: The process of winding up a deceased’s estate.
Residuary Estate: What remains of an estate after payment of all taxes, expenses, debts and legacies.
