Glossary

Glossary Library

Glossary pages define common estate planning, probate, trust, and elder law words in practical context.

Glossary pages define common estate planning, probate, trust, and elder law words in practical context.

Use this section as a reading path. Start with the guide closest to your question, then compare it with a state page and a preparation checklist before making a decision.

The goal is not to replace a professional meeting. The goal is to help you arrive with the right records, better vocabulary, and clearer questions.

Administrator

Plain-English guide to administrator in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Advance Directive

Plain-English guide to advance directive in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Ancillary Probate

Plain-English guide to ancillary probate in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Beneficiary

Plain-English guide to beneficiary in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Codicil

Plain-English guide to codicil in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Conservatorship

Plain-English guide to conservatorship in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Decedent

Plain-English guide to decedent in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Devise

Plain-English guide to devise in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Estate

Plain-English guide to estate in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Estate Tax

Plain-English guide to estate tax in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Executor

Plain-English guide to executor in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Fiduciary

Plain-English guide to fiduciary in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Grantor

Plain-English guide to grantor in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Guardian

Plain-English guide to guardian in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Heir

Plain-English guide to heir in estate planning and related legal preparation.

HIPAA Release

Plain-English guide to hipaa release in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Intestate

Plain-English guide to intestate in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Irrevocable Trust

Plain-English guide to irrevocable trust in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Letters Testamentary

Plain-English guide to letters testamentary in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Living Trust

Plain-English guide to living trust in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Living Will

Plain-English guide to living will in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Medicaid Estate Recovery

Plain-English guide to medicaid estate recovery in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Medicaid Look Back

Plain-English guide to medicaid look back in estate planning and related legal preparation.

No Contest Clause

Plain-English guide to no contest clause in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Payable on Death

Plain-English guide to payable on death in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Per Stirpes

Plain-English guide to per stirpes in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Personal Representative

Plain-English guide to personal representative in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Pour Over Will

Plain-English guide to pour over will in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Probate

Plain-English guide to probate in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Probate Court

Plain-English guide to probate court in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Revocable Trust

Plain-English guide to revocable trust in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Self Proving Affidavit

Plain-English guide to self proving affidavit in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Small Estate Affidavit

Plain-English guide to small estate affidavit in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Special Needs Trust

Plain-English guide to special needs trust in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Spendthrift Trust

Plain-English guide to spendthrift trust in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Successor Trustee

Plain-English guide to successor trustee in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Testamentary Capacity

Plain-English guide to testamentary capacity in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Testamentary Trust

Plain-English guide to testamentary trust in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Testator

Plain-English guide to testator in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Transfer on Death

Plain-English guide to transfer on death in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Trust Accounting

Plain-English guide to trust accounting in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Trust Funding

Plain-English guide to trust funding in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Trustee

Plain-English guide to trustee in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Undue Influence

Plain-English guide to undue influence in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Uniform Probate Code

Plain-English guide to uniform probate code in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Uniform Trust Code

Plain-English guide to uniform trust code in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Will

Plain-English guide to will in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Will Contest

Plain-English guide to will contest in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Witness

Plain-English guide to witness in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Estate Inventory

Plain-English guide to estate inventory in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Creditor Claim

Plain-English guide to creditor claim in estate planning and related legal preparation.

Homestead

Plain-English guide to homestead in estate planning and related legal preparation.

How to read this section

  • Separate document questions from tax, court, benefit, and family communication questions.
  • Write down assumptions that need local confirmation.
  • Keep signed originals, account forms, and court notices together before asking for help.

Sources to verify local details

Estate planning and elder law are state-specific. Use these public references as starting points, then confirm deadlines, forms, and filing rules with local counsel or the responsible agency.