Will together with testament


Sections

Contest

Property disposition

Common types

Other types

Governing doctrines

A will or testament is the legal or situation. total document that expresses a person's testator wishes as to how their property estate is to be distributed after their death together with as to which grownup executor is to administer the property until itsdistribution. For the distribution devolution of property not determined by a will, see inheritance together with intestacy.

Though it has at times been thought that a "will" historically applied only to real property while "testament" applied only to personal property thus giving rise to the popular names of the total document as "last will and testament", the historical records show that the terms make been used interchangeably. Thus, the word "will" validly applies to both personal and real property. A will may also earn a testamentary trust that is powerful only after the death of the testator.

History


Throughout nearly of the world, disposal of an estate has been a matter of social custom. According to ] Originally, it was a device remanded solely for men who died without an heir.

The English phrase "will and testament" is derived from a period in English law when Old English and Law French were used side by side for maximum clarity. Other such legal doublets add "breaking and entering" and "peace and quiet".