Glossary of words you might need to know when making your Will:
Assets
everything that you own, including your share in assets held jointly with someone else.
Beneficiary
a person or organisation who will receive a gift in your Will.
Codicil
a legal document that makes an amendment or addition to your current Will.
Estate
your property, money and possessions.
Executor
someone you choose and name in your Will to deal with your affairs in accordance with your Will after you've died.
Grant of Probate
a document which confirms who is authorised to deal with your affairs after you've died.
Guardians
the people you choose and name in your Will to look after your children in the event of your death.
Inheritance
when someone receives money, property or another personal possession from the person who has died.
Inheritance Tax
(IHT) - a tax on the estate of someone who's died. There is normally no IHT to pay if the value of the estate is under £325,000 and/or you leave everything to your spouse, civil partner or charity.
Intestacy
where someone dies without leaving a Will.There are then legal rules governing who can deal with your estate and who benefits from it.
Legacy or Bequest
a gift you leave in your Will to an individual or organisation.
Probate
the process of confirming your Will is valid, identifying what you owned and any debts or liabilities that need to be paid, then submitting an application to the Probate Registry. If everything is in order the Probate Registry then issue a Grant of Probate.
Pecuniary legacy
a cash gift - this is a gift of a set sum of money.
Residuary legacy
a share of an estate - this is a percentage of everything you own after any pecuniary legacies, specific legacies, debts and legal fees have been paid out.
Specific legacy
a specific item, such as a house, car or jewellery.
Testator/Testatrix
the man/woman whose Will is being written.
Trusts
where someone holds money or property on behalf of somebody else.
