GLOSSARY M - R

Next of kin
The nearest blood relative of the Deceased.

Nil Rate Band Allowance
The amount that can be passed to Beneficiaries without paying Inheritance Tax. For 2006/2007, this is £285,000.

Nil rate band trust
Also called a Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trust. A trust usually created by a will, designed to hold assets up to the amount inheritance tax allowance.

Oath
A pledge to tell the truth often calling upon God as a witness.

Personal Representative
Someone entitled to deal with the Deceased's estate.

Post mortem
Where there is no certifiable reason for a person’s death, doctors may ask relatives for permission to carry out a post-mortem which is a medical examination of the body to determine the cause of death. It should not delay the funeral.

Probate
The process of administration of an estate up to and including obtaining the Grant of Probate.

Probate Registry
A court within the family division of the High Court. Responsible for making sure that the Will is valid and the applicant is entitled to handle the estate.

Registrar
The person who registers the death.  By law, every death must be registered by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the sub-district in which it occurred.

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Residuary Beneficiary
Any person entitled to receive a share of any residue of the estate, under the terms of the Will or on intestacy.

Residue
What's left after the money legacies, specific gifts, funeral expenses, IHT, including bank accounts and insurance policies.

Revocation
When the testator decides to change their Will completely and invalidates the previous one, they are deemed to have revoked their Will.