Glossary of Legal Terms

An electronic will is a will made and stored in electronic form under the legal rules that allow it. Special legal requirements still apply to validity.

An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that lets an adult choose someone to handle financial and legal matters if the adult later cannot manage them alone. It helps keep bills, banking, and property matters moving without a court process in many cases.

An estate is the total of a deceased person’s assets, legal rights, and interests. It can include land, bank accounts, investments, possessions, and other property.

An estate grant is the general court authority document issued in probate matters, such as a grant of probate or a grant of administration. It confirms who has legal authority to deal with the estate.

An executor is the person named in a will to carry out the will and handle the estate. The executor gathers assets, pays debts and taxes, and gives what is left to the right people. In some cases, the executor needs probate before banks or land title offices will deal with them.