This is a person appointed by the court to handle the estate of an individual who has died without leaving a valid will (intestate). He or she is usually a close relative, but may be a close friend or a professional such as a solicitor. More than one administrator may be appointed.

This is a person who is left something in a will.

This is an official certified copy of the information registered when someone passes away, including the date, place and cause of death.

The property, assets and outstanding debts belonging to a person who has died.

This is a person named in a person’s will to carry out his or her wishes. There may be more than one executor and their duties will typically include making sure any inheritance tax due is settled and applying for Grant of Probate. In some cases, a deceased person’s solicitor could be the executor.

This is applied for through the courts – it confirms that a person’s will is valid, and confirms the executor as the representative of the person’s estate. It is sometimes referred to simply as probate.

This is the amount of tax assessed as payable on the deceased’s estate. It must be paid in advance of the court issuing Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.

A person dies Intestate if they do not leave a valid will. In this case, an application needs to be made to the court for Letters of Administration to appoint an administrator.

This is an official court order appointing someone as the administrator of a deceased person’s estate when no valid will exists.

A person’s closest living relative or relatives.

This general term refers to either an administrator or executor.

This is a person who has written a will that is in effect at the time of his/her death.

This is a legal document detailing how a person wishes their estate to be distributed upon their death. It specifies the person or people he or she wants to carry out the will’s instructions.