Dictionary of Law
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letters of administration :: legal definition


Letters of administration - n. a document issued by the court clerk which states the authority of the administrator of an estate of a person who has died, when there is no will or no available executor named by a will and an administrator has been appointed by the court. It is issued during probate of the estate as soon as the court approves the appointment of the administrator, who files a security bond if one is required. Certified copies of the letters are often required by banks and other financial institutions, the federal government, stock transfer agents or other courts before transfer of money or assets to the administrator of the estate.

See also: executor probate and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
ancillary administration :: n. administration of an estate's assets in another ... or "subordinate." See also: probate
bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation
Chief Justice :: n. the presiding judge of any State Supreme Court ... nks of existing Associate Justices.
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
contemplation of death :: n. the anticipation of death in a relatively short ... e also: unified estate and gift tax
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.
executor :: n. the person appointed to administer the estate o ... sed decedent executrix probate will
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
intestacy :: n. the condition of having died without a valid wi ... e. See also: intestate probate will
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
letters testamentary :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... te. See also: administrator probate
marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors.
out-of-pocket expenses :: n. moneys paid directly for necessary items by a c ... amages beyond normal wear and tear.
peremptory writ of mandate :: (or mandamus) n. a final order of a court to any g ... ve writ. See also: mandamus mandate
political question :: n. the determination by a court (particularly the ... ne-vote," as constitutional issues.
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
res judicata :: : (rayz judy-cot-ah) n. Latin for "the thing has b ... djudicata. See also: res adjudicata
special administrator :: n. a person appointed by the court in a probate pr ... or administrator. See also: probate
Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court
temporary injunction :: n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party ... ry injunction. See also: injunction
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 - L

labor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
landlady :: n. female of landlord or owner of real property fr ... rents or leases. See also: landlord
landlocked :: adj. referring to a parcel of real property which ... which it was created (carved out).
landlord :: n. a person who owns real property and rents or le ... so: lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord's lien :: n. the right of a landlord to sell abandoned perso ... to the ex-tenant and a public sale.
lapse :: 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made i ... eficiary devisee legatee trust will
larceny :: n. the crime of taking the goods of another person ... : grand larceny petty larceny theft
last antecedent rule :: n. a doctrine of interpretation (construction) of ... o trucks and not boats or tractors.
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will
latent defect :: n. a hidden flaw, weakness or imperfection in an a ... warranty product liability warranty
lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
law of admiralty :: n. statutes, customs and treaties dealing with act ... w. See also: Jones Act maritime law
law of the case :: n. once a judge has decided a legal question durin ... he ruling is the "law of the case."