Reference
Probate glossary
The legal vocabulary of probate, translated into everyday English.
- Administrator
- A person appointed by the court to deal with an estate where there is no will, or no willing/able executor.
- Beneficiary
- A person or organisation entitled to receive something from an estate.
- Caveat (PA8A)
- A formal notice that prevents a grant being issued, giving time to investigate concerns about a will or executor.
- Chattels
- Personal possessions — furniture, jewellery, cars — but excluding money, investments and business assets.
- Confirmation
- The Scottish equivalent of probate, issued by the Sheriff Court.
- Estate
- Everything a person owned at death, less their debts.
- Executor
- The person named in the will to administer the estate.
- Grant of Probate
- The court order that proves the will and authorises the executor to act.
- IHT400
- The full inheritance tax return required for taxable or non-excepted estates.
- Intestacy
- Dying without a valid will. Strict statutory rules then decide who inherits.
- Letters of Administration
- The grant issued when there is no will (form PA1A).
- Nil-Rate Band (NRB)
- £325,000 per person before IHT applies. Transferable between spouses.
- Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB)
- £175,000 extra band when a main home is left to direct descendants.
- Residue
- What is left in the estate after debts, taxes, expenses and specific gifts.
- s.27 Notice
- A statutory advertisement under Trustee Act 1925 s.27 protecting executors from unknown creditors.
- Testator
- The person who made the will.