Glossary
Plain-language definitions for every term you will encounter. Browse by letter or filter by category.
Use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search for a specific term on this page.
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A
Administrator
A person appointed by the court to manage an estate when there is no valid will or the named executor cannot serve.
ProbateAdministratrix
A female administrator. While this term is becoming outdated, it still appears in some legal contexts.
ProbateAncillary Probate
A secondary probate proceeding required in a state other than where the deceased was domiciled, typically when the person owned real property in another state.
ProbateAppraisal
A professional assessment of the fair market value of estate assets, particularly real estate, business interests, and valuable personal property.
ProbateAnnual Exclusion
The amount that can be gifted to any individual each year without incurring gift tax or reducing the lifetime exemption.
FinancialAD&D
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Pays a benefit if death or certain injuries result from an accident. Separate from standard life insurance.
FinancialAnticipatory Grief
Grief that begins before a death occurs, often when a loved one has a terminal illness. It can include mourning future losses and preparing emotionally.
Grief & HealingAmbiguous Loss
A loss that occurs without closure or clear understanding, such as when a loved one has dementia or a person is missing. The lack of finality complicates grieving.
Grief & HealingAdvance Directive
A legal document expressing a person's wishes about medical treatment in situations where they cannot communicate. Includes living wills and health care proxies.
Legal DocumentsAnniversary Reaction
A resurgence of grief that occurs around significant dates related to the deceased, such as birthdays, death anniversaries, or holidays.
Grief & HealingB
Beneficiary
A person or entity designated to receive assets, funds, or benefits from an account, insurance policy, trust, or will.
FinancialBequest
A gift of personal property made through a will. Different from a devise, which refers to real property.
Legal DocumentsBeneficiary Designation
A form that names who will receive the proceeds of an account, policy, or retirement plan upon the owner's death. Takes priority over a will.
FinancialBereavement
The period of mourning after a loss. Bereavement encompasses the entire experience of grief, including emotional, physical, and social dimensions.
Grief & HealingBurial
The interment of the deceased's body or cremated remains in the ground or in a mausoleum. May be in a cemetery, family plot, or other permitted location.
Funeral & MemorialBereavement Leave
Time off from work following the death of a family member. Policies vary widely by employer, and some states have enacted bereavement leave laws.
Grief & HealingC
Certified Copy
An official reproduction of a death certificate bearing a raised seal or stamp from the issuing authority. Multiple certified copies are usually needed.
Estate TermsCause of Death
The medical reason for death as recorded on the death certificate. Determined by the attending physician, medical examiner, or coroner.
Estate TermsContingent Beneficiary
A backup beneficiary who receives assets only if the primary beneficiary is unable to do so, typically because they predeceased the account holder.
FinancialCodicil
A legal document that amends, modifies, or adds to an existing will without replacing it entirely. Must be executed with the same formalities as the original will.
Legal DocumentsClaims Period
The legally specified time window during which creditors can file claims against an estate. The executor must notify known creditors and publish notice for others.
ProbateCreditor Claim
A formal request by a creditor for payment of a debt owed by the deceased. Claims must be filed within the claims period to be considered.
ProbateCharitable Deduction
A deduction from the taxable estate for assets left to qualified charitable organizations.
FinancialCommunity Property
A system in some states where most assets acquired during marriage are owned equally by both spouses regardless of whose name is on the title.
Legal DocumentsComplicated Grief
A persistent, intense form of grief that does not improve over time and significantly impairs daily functioning. Also called prolonged grief disorder.
Grief & HealingContinuing Bonds
A grief theory that describes maintaining an ongoing connection with the deceased through memories, rituals, or internal conversation. Seen as healthy and normal.
Grief & HealingCelebration of Life
A gathering focused on honoring and remembering the positive aspects of the deceased person's life. Often less formal than a traditional funeral.
Funeral & MemorialCremation
The process of reducing a body to ashes through high-temperature burning. Cremation may be chosen for personal, financial, religious, or environmental reasons.
Funeral & MemorialColumbarium
A structure with small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.
Funeral & MemorialCasket
A container for burial of the deceased, typically rectangular with a hinged lid. Available in various materials from wood to metal.
Funeral & MemorialConservator
A person appointed by the court to manage the financial affairs of someone who is unable to do so themselves due to incapacity.
Legal DocumentsCapital Gains
The profit from selling an asset for more than its cost basis. The stepped-up basis at death can significantly reduce capital gains tax for inherited assets.
FinancialCondolence
An expression of sympathy and sorrow for someone who is grieving. Condolences can be offered in person, by card, or through other meaningful gestures.
Grief & HealingCemetery
A designated area of land set aside for the burial of the dead. Cemeteries may be public, private, religious, or military.
Funeral & MemorialCalling Hours
A scheduled time for friends and community to visit with the bereaved family, offer condolences, and pay respects. Similar to a visitation.
Funeral & MemorialComfort Care
Medical care focused entirely on relieving suffering and maintaining quality of life rather than treating the underlying disease.
Grief & HealingCharitable Trust
A trust established to benefit a charitable organization. Can provide tax benefits to the estate while supporting a cause meaningful to the deceased.
Legal DocumentsD
Death Certificate
An official document issued by a government authority recording the death of a person. Certified copies are needed for most financial and legal processes after a death.
Estate TermsDeath Notice
A brief published announcement of a death, usually containing less biographical detail than an obituary. May include service information.
Funeral & MemorialDesignated Beneficiary
The specific person or entity named to receive the proceeds of an account or policy. Designations typically override what is written in a will.
FinancialDomiciliary Probate
The primary probate proceeding conducted in the state where the deceased was legally domiciled at the time of death.
ProbateDate of Death Value
The fair market value of an asset on the date the owner died. This value establishes the tax basis for inherited assets.
FinancialDistribution
The transfer of estate assets to beneficiaries after debts, taxes, and expenses have been paid. Can be made in cash, property, or a combination.
ProbateDevise
A gift of real property (land or buildings) made through a will.
Legal DocumentsDisenfranchised Grief
Grief that is not openly acknowledged or socially supported, such as grief over a miscarriage, pet death, estranged relationship, or non-traditional partnership.
Grief & HealingDurable Power of Attorney
A power of attorney that remains in effect even if the principal becomes incapacitated. Like all powers of attorney, it ends at the principal's death.
Legal DocumentsDecedent
The legal term for a person who has died. Used in probate, estate, and tax documents.
Legal DocumentsDeath Benefit
A payment made to beneficiaries upon the insured person's death, from a life insurance policy, pension, or other benefit plan.
FinancialDigital Assets
Online accounts, digital files, cryptocurrency, and other electronic property. Planning for digital assets is increasingly important in estate planning.
Estate TermsDirect Cremation
Cremation performed shortly after death without a prior viewing or funeral service. The most affordable cremation option.
Funeral & MemorialDirect Burial
Burial performed shortly after death without a prior viewing or formal funeral service. A simpler, lower-cost alternative to a traditional funeral.
Funeral & MemorialDeath Doula
A non-medical professional who provides emotional, spiritual, and practical support to a dying person and their family before, during, and after the death.
Grief & HealingDeath Tax
A colloquial term used to refer to estate tax or inheritance tax. Not an official legal term.
FinancialE
Estate
All of the property, assets, and debts owned by a person at the time of their death. The estate must be settled through probate or other legal processes.
ProbateExecutor
The person named in a will to carry out its instructions, manage estate assets, pay debts, and distribute property to beneficiaries.
ProbateExecutrix
A female executor. While the distinction is becoming less common in modern usage, some legal documents still use this term.
ProbateEscheat
The transfer of property to the state when a person dies without a will and without any identifiable heirs. A last resort in estate distribution.
ProbateEstate Inventory
A detailed list of all assets owned by the deceased at the time of death, along with their values. Typically required to be filed with the probate court.
ProbateEstate Tax
A tax on the transfer of a deceased person's estate, applied to the total value above the exemption threshold. Also called the death tax colloquially.
FinancialEstate Income Tax
Income tax owed on earnings generated by estate assets after the date of death, such as interest, dividends, and rental income.
FinancialEmbalming
The process of preserving a body through chemical treatment to delay decomposition. Not legally required in most situations but may be needed for certain viewing arrangements.
Funeral & MemorialEstate Planning
The process of arranging for the management and distribution of a person's assets during life and after death. Includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations.
Legal DocumentsEstate Settlement
The overall process of winding down a deceased person's affairs, including probate, paying debts, filing taxes, and distributing assets.
ProbateEthical Will
A non-legal document in which a person shares their values, life lessons, hopes, and blessings for future generations. A complement to a financial will.
Legal DocumentsExecutor's Fee
Compensation paid to the executor for their work in managing the estate. The amount is set by state law or the terms of the will.
ProbateEulogy
A speech given at a funeral or memorial service that honors and celebrates the life of the deceased.
Funeral & MemorialEnd of Life Planning
The process of making legal, medical, and personal decisions about care and affairs before death. Includes advance directives, wills, and funeral preferences.
Legal DocumentsEstate Sale
A sale of a deceased person's personal property, typically conducted at their home. Used to liquidate belongings not distributed to heirs.
Estate TermsF
Fiduciary
A person who has a legal duty to act in the best interest of another party. Executors, trustees, and administrators are all fiduciaries.
Legal DocumentsFiduciary Duty
The legal obligation to act honestly, in good faith, and in the best interest of the estate or trust beneficiaries. Breach of fiduciary duty can result in personal liability.
Legal DocumentsFormal Probate
A probate process that involves greater court oversight, typically required when the will is contested or there are disputes among heirs.
ProbateFederal Estate Tax
The estate tax imposed by the federal government on estates exceeding the lifetime exemption amount. Rates and exemptions change with legislation.
FinancialForm 706
The IRS form used to file the federal estate tax return. Required when the gross estate exceeds the filing threshold or to elect portability.
FinancialFinal Income Tax
The income tax return filed for the period from January 1 to the date of death. Filed using Form 1040 for the decedent.
FinancialForm 1041
The IRS form used to file an income tax return for an estate or trust. Reports income earned by estate assets after the date of death.
FinancialFuneral Service
A ceremony honoring the deceased, which may include religious or secular elements, eulogies, music, and rituals. Can be held with the body present or after cremation.
Funeral & MemorialFuneral Home
A business that provides death care services including preparation of the body, coordination of services, and guidance through the funeral planning process.
Funeral & MemorialFuneral Director
A licensed professional who coordinates funeral arrangements, prepares the body, manages logistics, and guides families through the process.
Funeral & MemorialFair Market Value
The price at which an asset would change hands between a willing buyer and seller, neither under pressure to act. Used for estate tax and basis calculations.
FinancialFinal Accounting
A detailed report filed with the probate court showing all financial transactions made by the executor, including income, expenses, and distributions.
ProbateG
Gross Estate
The total value of all assets owned by the deceased before subtracting debts, expenses, and deductions. Used for estate tax calculations.
ProbateGeneration-Skipping Transfer Tax
A federal tax on transfers to beneficiaries who are two or more generations below the grantor, such as grandchildren. Prevents avoidance of estate tax through generation skipping.
FinancialGeneral Bequest
A gift of a stated dollar amount or quantity from the estate that is not tied to a specific asset.
Legal DocumentsGrief
The natural emotional response to loss. Grief can involve sadness, anger, confusion, numbness, and many other feelings. There is no right way or timeline to grieve.
Grief & HealingGrief Process
The individual journey of working through grief over time. There is no universal pattern, though many models describe common experiences.
Grief & HealingGrief Counseling
Professional support that helps individuals process grief in a healthy way, develop coping strategies, and adapt to life after loss.
Grief & HealingGrief Therapy
More specialized therapeutic intervention for complicated or prolonged grief, often using evidence-based approaches to address symptoms that impair functioning.
Grief & HealingGuardian
A person appointed by a court or named in a will to care for a minor child or incapacitated adult. Naming a guardian in a will is important for parents of young children.
Legal DocumentsGift Tax
A federal tax on transfers of money or property to another person while receiving nothing or less than full value in return. Subject to annual and lifetime exclusions.
FinancialGrave Marker
A stone, plaque, or monument placed at a burial site to identify the deceased and commemorate their life. Also called a headstone or tombstone.
Funeral & MemorialGrief Trigger
An unexpected reminder of the deceased, such as a song, scent, place, or anniversary, that brings a sudden wave of grief.
Grief & HealingGrief Journal
A personal writing practice used to process grief, record memories, and track the emotional journey of bereavement.
Grief & HealingH
Holographic Will
A will that is handwritten by the testator. Some states recognize holographic wills even without witnesses, but requirements vary.
Legal DocumentsHeirs at Law
The people who are legally entitled to inherit from a deceased person under state intestacy laws when there is no valid will.
ProbateHealth Care Proxy
A document designating someone to make medical decisions on behalf of a person who is unable to make their own decisions. Also called a health care power of attorney.
Legal DocumentsHospice
A model of end-of-life care focused on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatment, typically for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.
Grief & HealingI
Irrevocable Trust
A trust that generally cannot be modified or revoked after it is created. Assets in an irrevocable trust are typically removed from the grantor's taxable estate.
Legal DocumentsIntestate
Dying without a valid will. When someone dies intestate, their assets are distributed according to state intestacy laws.
ProbateIntestacy
The condition of dying without a valid will. Intestacy laws vary by state and determine how assets are distributed among surviving relatives.
ProbateIntestate Succession
The legal order in which relatives inherit assets when someone dies without a will. Typically prioritizes spouse and children, then parents, siblings, and more distant relatives.
ProbateInformal Probate
A streamlined probate process with minimal court involvement, available in some states for uncontested estates.
ProbateInsolvent Estate
An estate where debts and obligations exceed the value of assets. State law determines the priority order for paying creditors.
ProbateInheritance Tax
A tax paid by the person receiving an inheritance, based on the amount received and their relationship to the deceased. Only some states impose this tax.
FinancialIRA
Individual retirement account. A tax-advantaged account for retirement savings. Beneficiary designations determine who inherits the account.
FinancialInherited IRA
An IRA received by a beneficiary after the original owner's death. Distribution rules depend on the beneficiary's relationship to the deceased and the year of death.
FinancialIrrevocable Beneficiary
A beneficiary designation that cannot be changed without that beneficiary's consent. Less common than revocable designations.
FinancialInterment
The act of placing a body or cremated remains in a final resting place, whether a grave, mausoleum, or columbarium niche.
Funeral & MemorialInventory Filing
The formal submission of the estate inventory to the probate court, listing all assets and their values as of the date of death.
ProbateJ
K
L
Letters Testamentary
A court document that authorizes the executor named in a will to act on behalf of the estate. Required by banks, brokerages, and other institutions.
ProbateLetters of Administration
A court document that authorizes an administrator to manage an estate when there is no valid will. The equivalent of letters testamentary for intestate estates.
ProbateLast Will and Testament
The formal legal name for a will. It expresses the testator's final wishes regarding the distribution of their estate.
Legal DocumentsLiving Trust
A trust created during the grantor's lifetime that holds assets and can avoid probate for those assets. Can be revocable or irrevocable.
Legal DocumentsLifetime Exemption
The total amount that can be transferred during life or at death without incurring federal estate or gift tax. The exemption is shared between gifts and estate.
FinancialLegacy
A gift left in a will, often used broadly to refer to any bequest or devise. Can also mean the lasting impact of a person's life.
Legal DocumentsLife Insurance Proceeds
The death benefit paid by a life insurance policy to the named beneficiary. Generally not subject to income tax but may be included in the taxable estate.
FinancialLump Sum Death Payment
A one-time payment of $255 from Social Security, paid to the surviving spouse or eligible child of a deceased worker.
FinancialLiving Will
A document that specifies which medical treatments a person does or does not want if they become terminally ill or permanently unconscious.
Legal DocumentsM
Manner of Death
The classification of how death occurred: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined. Recorded on the death certificate.
Estate TermsMarital Deduction
An unlimited deduction from estate tax for assets passing to a surviving spouse who is a U.S. citizen.
FinancialMourning
The outward expression of grief, shaped by cultural and religious practices. Mourning rituals can include wearing certain clothing, observing specific time periods, or gathering with community.
Grief & HealingMemorial
A service or event held in honor of the deceased, typically without the body present. Can take place days, weeks, or months after the death.
Funeral & MemorialMemorial Fund
A fund set up in memory of the deceased, often directing donations to a charity, scholarship, or cause that was meaningful to the person.
Grief & HealingMemorial Service
A ceremony held to remember and honor the deceased, typically without the body present. Can be held at any time after the death.
Funeral & MemorialN
Next of Kin
The closest living relative of the deceased, determined by law. Next of kin may have rights regarding estate matters and decision-making.
Legal DocumentsNet Estate
The value of the estate after subtracting debts, funeral expenses, administrative costs, and other deductions from the gross estate.
ProbateNotice to Creditors
A published legal notice informing potential creditors of the death and the deadline for filing claims against the estate.
ProbateNiche
A small compartment in a columbarium designed to hold an urn containing cremated remains.
Funeral & MemorialO
Obituary
A published notice announcing a person's death, typically including biographical information, surviving family members, and funeral service details.
Funeral & MemorialObituary Writing
The process of composing a death notice or biographical tribute. Can be written by family members, a funeral director, or a professional writer.
Funeral & MemorialP
Probate
The legal process of validating a will, appointing an executor, paying debts, and distributing assets according to the will or state law.
ProbateProbate Court
The court with jurisdiction over the administration of estates, validation of wills, and appointment of executors or administrators.
ProbateProbate Process
The step-by-step legal procedure for settling an estate, from filing the will to final distribution of assets. Timelines vary by state and estate complexity.
ProbatePersonal Representative
A general term for the person authorized to manage an estate, whether named in a will (executor) or appointed by the court (administrator).
ProbatePour-Over Will
A will that directs any assets not already in a trust to be transferred (poured over) into the trust at death. Works in conjunction with a living trust.
Legal DocumentsPer Stirpes
A method of distributing an estate where a deceased beneficiary's share passes to their descendants in equal portions.
ProbatePer Capita
A method of distributing an estate where each surviving beneficiary at a given generation level receives an equal share.
ProbatePortability
The ability of a surviving spouse to use any unused portion of the deceased spouse's federal estate tax exemption, effectively doubling the available exemption.
FinancialPOD
Payable on death. A designation on a bank account that directs funds to a named beneficiary upon the account holder's death. Avoids probate.
FinancialPayable on Death
The full term for POD. The account passes directly to the beneficiary without probate when the owner dies.
FinancialPension Survivor Benefit
Ongoing payments from a pension plan to the surviving spouse or designated beneficiary of a deceased plan participant.
FinancialProlonged Grief Disorder
A clinical diagnosis for grief that remains intense and debilitating well beyond what is culturally expected, preventing the person from resuming daily life.
Grief & HealingPower of Attorney
A legal document that grants one person the authority to act on behalf of another in financial or legal matters. It expires at death.
Legal DocumentsProbate Bond
A type of surety bond that the court may require an executor or administrator to obtain, protecting the estate and beneficiaries from potential mismanagement.
ProbateProbate Avoidance
Strategies used to transfer assets outside of probate, including trusts, beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and TOD/POD designations.
Legal DocumentsPallbearer
A person who helps carry or escort the casket at a funeral. Honorary pallbearers walk alongside but do not carry the casket.
Funeral & MemorialPre-Need Planning
Arranging and sometimes paying for funeral services in advance. Pre-planning can reduce the burden on family members and lock in current prices.
Funeral & MemorialPalliative Care
Specialized medical care focused on providing relief from symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness at any stage, not limited to end of life.
Grief & HealingProbate Attorney
A lawyer who specializes in guiding executors and families through the probate process, estate administration, and resolving disputes.
Legal DocumentsPerpetual Care
Ongoing maintenance of a burial plot or cemetery, funded by a portion of the plot purchase price placed in a dedicated fund.
Funeral & MemorialProbate Fee
Court filing fees and other costs associated with the probate process. Amounts vary by state and estate size.
ProbateQ
R
Revocable Trust
A trust that the grantor can modify or dissolve during their lifetime. Becomes irrevocable upon the grantor's death.
Legal DocumentsResiduary Bequest
A gift of whatever remains in the estate after all specific and general bequests have been fulfilled and all debts and expenses paid.
Legal DocumentsReal Property
Land and anything permanently attached to it, such as a house or other building. Real property may require ancillary probate if located in a different state.
Legal DocumentsRight of Survivorship
A feature of joint tenancy and tenancy by the entirety where the surviving owner automatically receives the deceased owner's share without probate.
Legal DocumentsRequired Minimum Distribution
The minimum amount that must be withdrawn from a retirement account each year. Rules for inherited accounts changed significantly with the SECURE Act.
FinancialResiduary Estate
The portion of the estate remaining after all specific and general bequests, debts, taxes, and expenses have been satisfied.
ProbateS
Surviving Spouse
The husband or wife of the deceased who is alive at the time of death. A surviving spouse typically has significant inheritance and benefit rights.
Legal DocumentsSurvivor
A person who is alive after the death of another, often used in the context of insurance and benefit claims. May refer to a spouse, child, or other dependent.
Legal DocumentsSelf-Proving Will
A will that includes a notarized affidavit from the witnesses, which can speed up probate by eliminating the need for witnesses to testify in court.
Legal DocumentsSuccessor Trustee
The person or institution designated to take over as trustee when the original trustee dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns.
Legal DocumentsSmall Estate
An estate that falls below a state's threshold for full probate, qualifying for a simplified process such as affidavit transfer or summary administration.
ProbateSummary Administration
A simplified, faster probate process available for smaller estates or when a certain period has passed since the death. Requirements vary by state.
ProbateSupervised Probate
A probate process where the court closely monitors each step, including all asset sales and distributions. Required when there are concerns about the estate's management.
ProbateSolvent Estate
An estate where assets are sufficient to pay all debts, taxes, and expenses with assets remaining for distribution to beneficiaries.
ProbateStepped-Up Basis
A tax provision that resets the cost basis of an inherited asset to its fair market value at the date of death, potentially reducing capital gains tax.
FinancialState Estate Tax
An estate tax imposed by individual states, which may have different exemption amounts and rates than the federal estate tax.
FinancialSpecific Bequest
A gift of a particular, identifiable item in a will, such as a specific piece of jewelry, vehicle, or bank account.
Legal DocumentsStretch IRA
A strategy that previously allowed non-spouse beneficiaries to stretch inherited IRA distributions over their lifetime. Largely eliminated by the SECURE Act for most beneficiaries.
FinancialSGLI
Servicemembers Group Life Insurance. A low-cost group life insurance program for active-duty military members.
FinancialSocial Security Survivor Benefits
Monthly payments from Social Security available to eligible survivors of a deceased worker, including spouses, children, and in some cases dependent parents.
FinancialStages of Grief
A model originally proposed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describing five common grief responses: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Not meant to be linear.
Grief & HealingSupport Group
A gathering of people who share a common experience of loss, providing mutual understanding, comfort, and practical advice. Can be in person or online.
Grief & HealingSeparate Property
Property owned by one spouse individually, typically acquired before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance during marriage. Treatment varies by state.
Legal DocumentsScattering
The act of dispersing cremated remains in a meaningful location, such as a garden, ocean, or other natural setting. Some locations require permits.
Funeral & MemorialSurvivor's Guilt
Feelings of guilt experienced by someone who survived an event or situation in which others died. Can complicate the grief process.
Grief & HealingSecondary Loss
The additional losses that follow the primary loss, such as loss of income, companionship, routine, identity, or social connections.
Grief & HealingSECURE Act
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act. Changed distribution rules for inherited retirement accounts, requiring most non-spouse beneficiaries to withdraw all funds within 10 years.
FinancialT
Testator
The person who creates a will. The testator must be of legal age and sound mind when the will is executed.
Legal DocumentsTestatrix
A female testator. Like executrix, this term is becoming less common in modern legal practice.
Legal DocumentsTrustee
The person or institution responsible for managing trust assets and distributing them according to the trust terms.
Legal DocumentsTrust Administration
The process of managing and distributing trust assets after the grantor's death according to the terms of the trust document.
Legal DocumentsTrust Funding
The process of transferring assets into a trust by changing title or beneficiary designations. An unfunded trust does not avoid probate.
Legal DocumentsTangible Personal Property
Physical items that can be touched and moved, such as furniture, jewelry, vehicles, art, and household goods. Distinguished from real property and financial assets.
Legal DocumentsTOD
Transfer on death. A designation that allows an asset to pass directly to a named beneficiary upon the owner's death without going through probate.
FinancialTransfer on Death
The full term for TOD. Commonly used for brokerage accounts and, in many states, real property through a TOD deed.
FinancialTenancy by the Entirety
A form of joint property ownership available only to married couples in some states, with automatic right of survivorship and creditor protection.
Legal DocumentsTribute
A public expression of respect, admiration, or gratitude for the deceased, which can take the form of speeches, donations, or memorial activities.
Funeral & MemorialU
Unsupervised Probate
A probate process where the personal representative acts with minimal court oversight, filing periodic reports but not needing advance approval for routine actions.
ProbateUrn
A container used to hold cremated remains. Urns come in many materials and styles, from simple to decorative.
Funeral & MemorialV
Vital Records
Government records of life events including births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. The vital records office issues death certificates.
Estate TermsVGLI
Veterans Group Life Insurance. A post-separation life insurance program that allows veterans to convert SGLI coverage to a renewable term policy.
FinancialVisitation
A scheduled time before the funeral when family and friends can view the deceased and offer condolences to the family. Also called a viewing or wake.
Funeral & MemorialVault
A lined container placed in the ground to enclose the casket, preventing the ground from settling over time. Required by many cemeteries.
Funeral & MemorialW
Will
A legal document that states how a person wants their property distributed after death and may name an executor and guardians for minor children.
Legal DocumentsWitnessed Will
A will that has been signed in the presence of witnesses who also sign the document. The most common and widely accepted form of will.
Legal DocumentsWake
A gathering held before the funeral, traditionally involving watching over the body. The term is still commonly used for pre-funeral visitation periods.
Funeral & MemorialWaiver of Accounting
An agreement by all beneficiaries to forgo a formal accounting by the executor, streamlining the estate settlement process.
Probate