Chase Estate Services General Terms
Estate Services
General terms
Administrator:
An administrator is a person appointed by a probate court to manage and distribute a deceased person’s estate if a valid will does not exist. An administrator can also be appointed by the court if there is a will but it does not identify an executor or the named executor is unable to or refuses to serve and a qualified successor has not been named.
Assumption:
An Assumption is the process by which a party (or parties) other than the original customer(s) on the loan or lease voluntarily assumes responsibility for the remaining payments.
Beneficiary:
A person designated to receive money or property from a person who has died. For example, someone can be designated as a beneficiary in a will or on a bank account (e.g., named in an informal trust as In Trust For (ITF) or named as a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary).
Decedent:
A deceased person
Deed:
A written instrument that conveys some interest in property.
Estate:
The assets and liabilities left by the decedent.
Executor/Executrix:
Person or entity appointed by a will and/or appointed by court to administer the estate of a deceased person.
Fiduciary:
A person who has been entrusted with the responsibility to manage the assets or rights of another person. A fiduciary may be referred to as an Executor, Administrator, or Trustee, among other names.
Letters of Administration:
A document issued by a probate court that reflect the appointment of the administrator of an estate if there is no will.
Letter Testamentary:
An order from the probate court approving the appointment of an executor under a will and authorizing the executor to administer the estate.
Note:
A written promise by one party to pay money to another party.
Power of Attorney (POA):
The authority to act for another person in specified or all legal or financial matters.
Probate:
The process of gathering a decedent’s assets, paying the creditors and any taxes owed and then distributing the remainder according to the will (testate distribution) or state law (intestate distribution), as applicable.
Successor Trustee:
A trustee who succeeds an earlier trustee, usually as provided in the trust agreement when the prior trustee is unable or unwilling to continue.
Successor In Interest:
Someone who follows another in ownership or control of property. A successor in interest retains the same rights as the original owner.
Trustee:
A person named to administer a trust for a beneficiary according to the terms established by the trust grantor/settlor.
Will:
A legal document by which a person directs his or her estate to be distributed upon death.