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■ Will A list of instructions telling a testator’s executors what to do with the estate upon death and, if relevant, appointing guardians for any children.

■ Testator The person who has made a Will.

■ Beneficiary A person or organisation receiving a gift.

■ Intestate Person who dies without having made a Will.

■ Codicil A document that amends a Will.

■ Mirror Will One containing almost identical terms to another. Usually used by spouses or partners where the beneficiaries are largely the same.

Estate Deceased’s possessions, property and money.

■ Executor Person( s) appointed by a Will, or appointed by a court if there is no Will, to administer an estate.

■ Confirmation A court document confirming the validity of a Will and the executor’s right to administer the estate.

■ Inheritance tax Amount paid on death on the proportion of an estate over the tax threshold.

■ Legacy Gift to a person or organisation.

■ Bequest A gift to a person or organisation. There are different types of gifts: pecuniary bequest; residuary bequest; specific bequest.

■ Conditional legacy One that is conditional upon a particular event happening.

Demonstrative legacy

A pecuniary legacy payable out of a specific fund.

■ Pecuniary bequest A fixed sum of money.

■ Guardian Named person( s) responsible for the deceased’s children until they become 16.

Issue The children of the deceased, their children and so on down the family tree.

Joint property One which is owned by two or more people and contains a “survivorship” clause. This clause leaves the property to the remaining owners without requiring confirmation.

Life interest Granting a right, often under a trust, to someone which lasts only for the lifetime of the beneficiary.

Residue Remainder of an estate after other gifts are made and debts are cleared.

Residuary bequest A gift made from the residue. It can be a share ( percentage) of the remainder, or all of the remainder.

Trust A written arrangement whereby an appointed trustee is given money or assets to hold and manage for those defined in the deed or will that created the trust.

Trustee Individuals or an organisation named in a trust deed to take responsibility for and manage trust assets.