Legal Terminology (Ch 26)

administratix

A female appointed by the court to administer the estate of an intestate decedent.

executrix

A female nominated in a will of a decedent to carry out the terms of the will; a personal representative of an estate.

administrator

A male appointed by the court to administer the estate of an intestate decedent.

executor

A male nominated in a will of a decedent to carry out the terms of the will; a personal representative of an estate.

Surrogate's Court

A name given in some states to the court that exercises the function of settling a decedents' estates.

Prerogative Court

A name given in some states to the court that exercises the function of settling decedents' estates.

Probate and Family Court

A name given in some states to the court that exercises the function of settling decedents' estates.

Court of Ordinary

A name given, in some states, to the court that exercises the function of settling decedents' estates.

Orphan's Court

A name given, in some states, to the court that exercises the function of settling decedents' estates.

administrator c.t.a.

A person appointed by the court to administer a testate estate in which no executor is nominated or in which the executor has died or for some reason does not settle the estate (c.t.a. is an abbreviation for cum testamento annexo). Also called administrator with the will annexed and administrator w.w.a.

administrator w.w.a.

A person appointed by the court to administer a testate estate in which no executor is nominated or in which the executor has died or for some reason does not settle the estate (w.w.a. is an abbreviation for with the will annexed). Also called administrator c.t.a. and administrator cum testamento annexo.

administrator with the will annexed

A person appointed by the court to administer a testate estate in which no executor is nominated or in which the executor has died or for some reason does not settle the estate (w.w.a. is an abbreviation for with the will annexed). Also called administrator c.t.a., administrator cum testamento annexo, and administrator w.w.a.

administrator cum testamento annexo

A person appointed by the court to administer a testate estate in which no executor is nominated or in which the executor has died or for some reason does not settle the estate. Also called administrator c.t.a., administrator with the will annexed, and administrator w.w.a.

administrator d.b.n.

A person appointed by the court to complete the settlement of an estate in which a previously appointed administrator has died, resigned, or been removed. (d.b.n. is an abbreviation for de bonis non).

administrator de bonis non

A person appointed by the court to complete the settlement of an estate in which a previously appointed administrator has died, resigned, or been removed. Also called administrator d.b.n.

ancillary administrator

A person appointed by the court to handle the affairs of a decedent in a foreign state.

special administrator

A person appointed by the court to handle the affairs of an estate for a limited time only to take care of urgent affairs.

administrator d.b.n.c.t.a.

A person appointed by the court to take the place of a previously appointed executor who has died, resigned, or been removed. (d.b.n.c.t.a. is an abbreviation for de bonis non cum testament annexo).

administrator de bonis non cum testamento annexo

A person appointed by the court to take the place of a previously appointed executor who has died, resigned, or been removed. Also called administrator d.b.n.c.t.a.

successor personal representatives

A person appointed to succeed a previously appointed personal representative.

executor de son tort

A person who performs the duties of an executor without authority to do so.

voluntary administrator

A person who undertakes the informal administration of a small estate.

fiduciary capacity

A position of trust.

will contest

A suit over the allowance or disallowance of a will.

administrator pendente lite

A temporary administrator appointed by the court to protect estate assets when there is a will contest.

administrator ad litem

An administrator appointed by the court to supply a necessary party to a suit in which the estate has an interest.

summary administration

An informal method used in California to settle estates that do not exceed $30,000.

public administrator

An official who administer the estate of a person who dies intestate when no relative, heir, or other person appears who is entitled to act as administrator.

personal representative

The executor or administrator of a deceased person.