| Term |
Abbreviation |
Explanation |
| A |
| Account |
Acc. Accnt |
An account prepared by the executor or administrator of an estate. |
| Act Book |
AB |
Outline details of the grant of probate, including name of testator, date of probate, executor name(s), value of estate. |
| ad colligendum bona |
ad colligend |
If there is no executor or administrator for a person's estate - perhaps because of a dispute over the validity of the will - the court may appoint a person to collect the goods of the deceased and keep them in safe custody until an administrator can be appointed. |
| Administration |
A, Ad, Am, Adm, Admon |
If a person died without leaving a will, someone (usually a relative) could apply to the probate court for a grant of administration, which would allow them to deal with the estate. |
| Affidavit |
Aff, Affd, Affdt |
Also known as a deposition (qv.) |
| Appraisal |
Apprais |
Valuation of goods at death, sometimes previous to drawing up an inventory, sometimes as part of it.
|
| C |
| Citation mandate |
|
A legal document requiring someone to do something or appear before the probate court. |
| Codicil |
C, Codl, Cod'l |
An amendment to a will. |
| Commission |
Com, Comm |
An order by a court for carrying out some task, eg: "To examine witnesses"; "To collect goods" (eg com. ad colligend.); "To make an inventory of goods". |
| Curation |
Cur, Curon |
Guardianship over minors under 21 but over 14 for boys or 12 for girls. The guardian was chosen by the minor. |
| D |
| Declaration |
Dec, Decl |
A declaration in lieu of an inventory. Produced instead of an inventory, giving the approximate value of the estate. |
| Deed of Gift |
|
|
| Deposition |
Dep |
A testimony under oath as to the veracity of a will and the circumstances in which it was made. |
| Donation of goods |
|
A deed of gift enrolled in a probate register. |
| I |
| Indemnity |
|
A form of bond agreeing to make good any losses suffered. |
| Inventory |
Inv, Invt |
A list of the testator's property. |
| M |
| Mandate |
|
An order to appear before a probate court. |
| Memorandum |
Memo |
Various documents could be described as a memorandum, including nuncupative wills and documents concerning the distribution of the deceased's property. |
| N |
| Noncupative will |
|
A will made orally because the testator was incapable of signing (usually on his/her deathbed), but written down after the testator's death and sworn to by witnesses |
| P |
| Probate Act |
Pro Act |
The record of probate. |
| Probate bond |
B., Bd., PB |
A bond was required by a probate court from the executor or administrator to ensure that the duties were carried out properly. |
| Promissary Note |
Prom. Note |
Promise of future payment either by or to a testator; could be considered part of his estate. |
| R |
| Renunciation |
Ren, Renunc |
A document from one or more of the executors, or prospective administrators, renouncing their executorship or right to administer. |
| S |
| Schedule of Estate |
Sch |
List of property and goods - a form of inventory. |
| Sentence |
|
'Sentence' means that there was a case brought about the will, and the court came to a determination. |
| Sequestration |
|
A writ authorising seizure of property. |
| T |
| Testamentary Dispute |
|
A document concerning a legal dispute about an estate. |
| TMS |
|
"Their Majesties' Service/Ship" (ie William and Mary) |
| Tuition |
|
Tuition agreement. Relates to guardianship over minors under 14 (boys) or 12 (girls). The guardian was chosen by the court. |
| W |
| Will |
W, Wi |
A will |