GLOSSARY FOR ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

account – the report rendered by the executor or administrator of his/her transactions in the estate

administration proceeding – the proceeding brought in the Surrogate’s Court in an intestate estate for the appointment of an administrator

administrator – the person who administers an estate in the absence of an executor. Such a situation arises when the decedent dies intestate or when all executors nominated in a will fail to serve.

commissions – the payments that the executor or administrator is entitled to as compensation for his/her work

decedent – the deceased person

distributees – the class of closest relatives who survive a decedent, and would inherit his/her estate in an intestacy

distributive share – the share of the residuary estate that a distributee inherits under the laws of intestacy

estate fiduciary – the executor or administrator of an estate

executor – the person nominated by a testator/testarix in his/her will to administer his/her estate

fiduciary income tax – the tax that an estate or trust must pay on the income it receives

intestate, intestacy – the circumstance of a person having died without a valid will

issue – direct descendants

letters of administration –   the document of appointment of an administrator

letters testamentary – the document of appointment of an executor

preliminary letters testamentary – the temporary appointment of theexecutor named in the will to serve and administer the estate before the probate proceeding is completed

probate – the determination by the Surrogate’s Court that a document is a valid will.

probate proceeding – the proceeding brought in the Surrogate’s Court to have a will admitted to probate

renunciation – the act of refusing to accept an inheritance in such a manner that it is not deemed a gift by the person renouncing to the person to whom the property passes

Surrogate’s Court – the court in which matters pertaining to decedent’s estates is adjudicated

temporary letters of administration – the temporary appointment of an administrator to serve and administer the estate before the administration proceeding is completed

testate – the circumstance of a person having died leaving a valid will

I encourage you to also examine the Glossary for Estate Planning and Advance Directives and The Practice Area page for Specialized Surrogate’s Court Proceedings.