GLOSSARY OF TERMS YOU MIGHT FIND IN YOUR WILL

ATTESTATION -the act of signing your will in the presence of two witnesses

EXECUTOR (fem -EXECUTRIX) -someone appointed to administer your will

BENEFICIARY -someone who inherits something under a will

BEQUEST (verb BEQUEATH) -a gift of something other than property

DEVISE (verb DEVISE) -a gift of property

GUARDIAN -someone appointed to look after your underage children

INTESTACY -the state of dying without having made a valid will (see intestacy rules for what happens)

TRUSTEE -someone to whom you give property/cash/assets to be held and administered for the benefit of someone else, such as an underage child.

"PER STIRPES" -Latin term meaning that if a named beneficiary has died, then his children share his bequest

TESTATOR (fem -TESTATRIX) -the person making the will

VESTED -implies the point at which someone becomes legally entitled to something