Row Officers

Register of Wills

Glossary of Terms

Codicil: A writing, signed at the end by a testator, which amends an existing Will.

Decedent: A deceased person.

Estate: Property owned by a person at death over which an executor (when a decendent has a will) or administrator (when a decedent has no will) is authorized to exercise control.

Lineal Descendants:  Includes natural children, adopted children, stepchildren, their descendents and step-descendents, natural or adopted.

Probate: To "prove" a Will by submission to the Register of Wills who determines its validity and issues a decree appointing a person as the executor/executrix to administer the estate.

Property: Real estate and personal property.

Personal Representative: Person named in a will (Executor/ Executrix) or appointed by the Register (Administrator/Administratrix) to administer an estate.

Testator/Testatrix:  A person who writes a Will.

Please Note:
All information on this webpage is to inform and not to advise. It is based upon Pennsylvania Law. The statements are general, and individual facts in a given case may alter their application or involve other laws not referred to here.