Skip to main content

Insight article

July 18, 2024

Legal jargon in wills: understanding your will

When preparing a will, it's common to encounter legal jargon that might be confusing. This article aims to clarify those terms, ensuring you understand your will completely.

legal jargon written in scrabble like pieces

Legal jargon or terminology is used in wills to ensure precision and avoid ambiguity. These terms serve as shorthand to prevent lengthy explanations and to maintain clarity for those interpreting the document.

Key terms in wills

People

Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries are the individuals or organisations that will inherit portions of your estate after your death.

Executor: The executor is the person or organisation you appoint to manage your estate’s administration. Their duties include identifying assets and debts, applying for Probate, handling Inheritance Tax issues, and distributing the estate per the will’s instructions. Multiple executors can be appointed to act jointly or as substitutes.

Guardians: If you have minor children, you can appoint guardians to manage their affairs.

Issue: “Issue” refers to your descendants, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, named or entitled to inherit in the will.

Testator: The testator is the individual making the will. If you’re drafting a will, you are the testator.

Trustee: A trustee manages any trusts established within the will. There can be one or multiple trustees.

Money and property

Estate: The estate encompasses all the testator’s assets minus debts or liabilities, sometimes referred to as the net estate.

Assets: Assets are valuable items the testator owns, including property, cash, and investments.

Chattels: Chattels are movable personal property, such as personal belongings, furniture, or a car.

Bequest: A bequest is a gift of personal property specified in the will, for example, such as jewellery, a car, antique furniture, or art.

Legacy: A legacy, like a bequest, is a gift but can include all types of property, personal items, and cash.

Residue: The residue is what’s left of the estate after debts, bequests, and legacies are settled.

Life Interest: A life interest allows someone to use an asset during their lifetime without transferring ownership, often used in relation to property.

Conclusion

Understanding legal jargon in wills is crucial for clarity. If any term or phrase in your will is unclear, consult your solicitor for an explanation.

If you need a new will or have questions about your existing one, contact private client solicitor and wills specialist Herman Cheung today.

Note: This article is not legal advice; it provides information of general interest about current legal issues.

Stay in touch

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay in touch

By completing your details and submitting this form you confirm you are happy for us to send you marketing communications and that you agree to our Website Privacy Policy and Legal Notice and to us using Mailchimp to process your data.


Sending

News/Insight

  • Strategic lifetime gifting
    How to minimise your IHT liability during your lifetime.


    Read more
  • Navigating directors’ duties
    Legal responsibilities and risks for UK company directors


    Read more
  • Preparing a business-lasting power of attorney
    In this article, private client solicitor Herman Cheung of West End law firm RIAA Barker Gillette (UK) considers the advantages, needs and practical examples of creating a bu


    Read more
  • Can you make a WhatsApp will?
    Key legal requirements and future outlook.


    Read more
  • Supporting neurodiverse people in family law matters
    Understanding neurodiversity in the legal context.


    Read more

What they say...

  • Michael, May 2025
    “Very pleased with the services provided by Charlotte Barbaroussis. Particularly found her quick and effective to reply to any queries.”

  • Malcolm & Sheila Blackmore, May 2025
    “My wife and I engaged RIAA Barker Gillette to prepare our wills and LPOA’s. James McMullan and Charlotte Barbaroussis were the epitome of professionalism – responding quickly, talking us through the legalese, clearly answering any

  • Ian, April 2025
    “Martin and his team at Barker Gillette acted for us in our purchase and sale of property. The chain was lengthy and elements of the work became complex. Martin was tenacious and resolved to answer our queries as they arose. He handled all aspe

  • Henry, April 2025
    “We have purchased flats before with 2 different solicitors who were unable to help us this time. Martin came highly recommended and are we glad. He was very professional in every way: knowledgeable, approachable, he has a friendly manner, very

  • Megan Purcell-Jones, April 2025
    “Charlotte was extremely diligent and thorough. She talked us through the process of making our wills and listened to and understood our needs and the complexities involved. Extremely patient and very clear.”

Read more
Send this to a friend