Terms Used In Maryland Code > ESTATES AND TRUSTS > Title 1 - Estates of Decedents - General Provisions

• Administrator: includes an executor and a personal representative. See
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
• certified mail: includes "registered mail"; and
  
  (3) "registered mail" includes "certified mail". See
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Decedent: A deceased person.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Executor: includes an administrator and a personal representative. See
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
• Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
• Legatee: A beneficiary of a decedent
• Per stirpes: The legal means by which the children of a decedent, upon the death of an ancestor at a level above that of the decedent, receive by right of representation the share of the ancestor
• Probate: Proving a will
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Testate: To die leaving a will.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.