1. Administrator: Generally, is a person to whom Letters of Administration are issued, that is, authority to administer the estate of a deceased person by the probate court. He or she resembles an executor or executrix, but being appointed by the Court, and not by the deceased. He or she has to give security for the due administration. (Remember your high school Latin, administrator is masculine and administratrix is feminine.)


2. Ancillary Estate: A supplemental estate for decedent's property located out of the state of decedents death. If decedent resided in the State of Arizona leaving an estate there, *****but owned real property in Covina, California, an ancillary probate***** would be opened in California for administering the Covina property only.


3. Beneficiary: A recipient of an estate or trust of a decedent or a donor.


4. Bond: Security or collateral guaranteeing the legitimate handling of the assets of an estate or trust. Generally surety companies write the bond for a premium amount charged to the estate in an amount set by the court.


5. Community Property: Community property is all property in or out of the State that either you or your spouse acquired through your labor or skills during marriage while living in California. It can include "real estate," a home, leased or rental property, cars, money and other personal possessions. Each spouse owns one-half of all community property.


6. Conservator: A guardian, protector, preserver.


7. Conservatorship: A conservatorship is a proceeding wherein one is appointed the conservator over another who is incapable of managing his or her affairs.


8. Executor: A person appointed by a testator to carry out the directions and requests in his or her Will, and to dispose of the property according to his or her testamentary provisions after his or her death. (Remember your high school Latin, executor is masculine and executrix is feminine.)


9. Guardianship: A proceeding wherein one is appointed as a protector, preserver and manager of the person and/or estate of a minor.


10. Incompetent: Used to designate the condition or legal status of a person who is unable or unfit to manage his or her own affairs by reason of insanity, senility or mental infirmary.


11. Intestate: Without making a Will. A person is said to die intestate when he or she dies without making a Will.


12. Notice to Quit: A written notice given by a landlord or by one entitled to possession of real property to the tenant or wrongful occupier of real property and that the latter is required to quit and remove himself or herself from the real property at a specified time.


13. Testator: One who makes or has made a Will. One who dies leaving a Will.


14. Trustee: A person named by a Trustor to act as a representative of a Trust Instrument of the Trustor. A person to handle and distribute the property of the Trust pursuant to the Trust Instrument. Similar to an administrator, although, usually no court supervision is needed.