Dictionary of Law
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executor :: legal definition


Executor - n. the person appointed to administer the estate of a person who has died leaving a will which nominates that person. Unless there is a valid objection, the judge will appoint the person named in the will to be executor. The executor must insure that the person's desires expressed in the will are carried out. Practical responsibilities include gathering up and protecting the assets of the estate, obtaining information in regard to all beneficiaries named in the will and any other potential heirs, collecting and arranging for payment of debts of the estate, approving or disapproving creditor's claims, making sure estate taxes are calculated, forms filed and tax payments made, and in all ways assisting the attorney for the estate (which the executor can select).

See also: deceased decedent executrix probate will and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
advancement :: n. a gift made by a person to one of his or her ch ... tate gift in contemplation of death
after-acquired title :: n. title to property acquired after the owner atte ... ed title goes automatically to Sam.
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
caption :: n. the first section of any written legal pleading ... to the exact format of the caption.
claim against an estate :: n. upon the death of a person and beginning of pro ... ade to the heirs. See also: probate
conservator :: n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge t ... ies. See also: conservatee guardian
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
estate :: n. 1) all that one owns in real estate and other a ... ife estate probate real estate will
estate tax :: n. generally a federal tax on the transfer of a de ... commonly called an inheritance tax.
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
gift in contemplation of death :: n. (called a gift causa mortis by lawyers showing ... ift tax unified estate and gift tax
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
letters of administration :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... estate. See also: executor probate
letters testamentary :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... te. See also: administrator probate
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
marital deduction :: n. an estate tax deduction allowed a surviving spo ... community property estate tax trust
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
net estate :: n. the remaining estate of a person who has died, ... alue. See also: estate tax gift tax
nominee :: n. 1) a person or entity who is requested or named ... ic office. See also: agent executor
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
pro rata :: (proh rat-ah or proh ray-tah) adj. from Latin for ... e year in which he/she holds title.
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
receiver :: n. 1) a neutral person (often a professional trust ... owing they were obtained illegally.
special administrator :: n. a person appointed by the court in a probate pr ... or administrator. See also: probate
surety :: n. a guarantor of payment or performance if anothe ... or entity. See also: bond guarantor
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
unified estate and gift tax :: n. in federal estate taxes, the value of the estat ... turn. See also: estate tax gift tax
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - E

earnest payment :: n. a deposit paid to demonstrate commitment and to ... (liquidated) or committed damages.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
egress :: n. way of departure. A word usually used in conjun ... unction with "access" or "ingress."
EIR :: n. popular acronym for environmental impact report ... e also: environmental impact report
ejectment :: n. a lawsuit brought to remove a party who is occu ... o the property through her parents.
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
election of remedies :: n. an outmoded requirement that if a plaintiff (pa ... dence has not been fully presented.
election under the will :: n. in those states which have statutes which give ... arries) left to her under his will.
eleemosynary :: (eh-luh-moss-uh-nary) adj. charitable, as applied ... pplied to a purpose or institution.
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
embezzlement :: n. the crime of stealing the funds or property of ... in trust. See also: embezzler theft
embezzler :: n. a person who commits the crime of embezzlement ... r property of an employer or trust.
emblements :: n. crops to which a tenant who cultivated the land ... ome the property of his/her estate.
emergency :: n. a sudden, unforeseen happening which requires a ... r to protect lives and/or property.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
emolument :: n. salary, wages and benefits paid for employment ... d for employment or an office held.
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment