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Administering
Solicitors
The
solicitors instructed by the administrator to administer the
estate.
Administration
of the estate
The process
of dealing with all the assets and liabilities and taxes of
the estate, and then distributing the balance to the beneficiaries
(see legal procedures page).
Administrator
A
person appointed by a probate court to handle the distribution
of the estate of someone who has died without a will, or with
a will that fails to name someone to carry out this task.
(see also our page on the role
of the administrator)
Administratrix
The
female form of administrator.
Estate
Everything
that the deceased owned, and all the debts and taxes the deceased
owed to others.
Executor
The
person named in a Will to deal with the assets (property,
wealth, belongings etc) of someone who has died. The executor
must collect and manage the property, pay debts and taxes,
and then distributes the remainder as detailed in the Will.
The executor also handles any probate court proceedings (with
the help of a lawyer, if necessary) and takes care of day-to-day
tasks, such as terminating leases and credit cards, and notifying
people and organisations of the death.
Executrix
The female form of the executor
Genealogy
What is
Genealogy?
Genealogy is the history of families. The easiest way to present
this information is on family trees. Genealogy is used to
show different family relationships, and in our case, to prove
the right for our clients to inherit from a deceased person.
History
of Genealogy
The concept of tracing genealogical tables and family trees
dates back to biblical times. The Tree of Jesse (Mathew 1:1-17)
is an early example. Since the second world war, genealogy
has become ever more popular as a hobby. Nowadays many people
have traced a family tree of their direct ancestors.
Grant
Grant of probate, or Grant of Letters of Administration (see
What is probate research?
)
Intestate
When
an individual dies without leaving a valid will.
Next-of-kin
The
closest relatives, as defined by law, of a deceased person.
Probate
Court
A
specialised court (or division of a high court) that considers
cases concerning the distribution of deceased people's estates.
Probate
Research
Please
see our page on Dying
Intestate: probate research
Probate
Researchers
Full-time professional researchers work to trace extensive
family trees, making connections between people who are not
linked in an obvious or straight-forward linear relationship.
This allows heirs to be found for inheritances which would
otherwise go to the state. (see also: probate
research )
Relationships
Here is
a quick guide to describe some of the terms used to describe
family relationships.
(First)
Cousins
Perhaps the most easily understood relationship outside the
nuclear family. Cousins share the same grandparents, and so
your cousins are the sons and daughters of your uncles and
aunts. These are your first cousins - and are sometimes known
as "Cousins German".
Second
Cousins
Second cousins share the same great-grandparents, but not
the same grandparents.
Third
Cousins
As expected, third cousins share the same great-great-grandparents.
Removed
A cousin who is removed, is a cousin from a different generation.
So your father's (first) cousin, is also your first cousin,
but once removed because he is from the generation older than
yours.
Will
A
document in which you specify what is to be done with your
assets when you die. A will should also name the "executor"
(see above).
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