Testamentary: meaning, definitions and examples
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testamentary
[ tɛstəˈmɛn.tə.ri ]
legal context
The term 'testamentary' refers to actions or documents related to a person's will, especially after their death. It is often used in legal contexts to describe decisions made or documents executed in accordance with a stated will. Testamentary instruments are essential in the distribution of a deceased person's estate, ensuring that their wishes are honored as specified in their will. This adjective is commonly associated with terms like testamentary trust or testamentary capacity, which determine the validity and execution of wills.
Synonyms
bequeathed, legacy-related, wills-related.
Examples of usage
- She established a testamentary trust for her children.
- The court reviewed the testamentary documents before proceeding.
- He lacked testamentary capacity when he wrote his will.
Translations
Translations of the word "testamentary" in other languages:
🇵🇹 testamentário
🇮🇳 वसीयत से संबंधित
🇩🇪 testamentarisch
🇮🇩 testamenter
🇺🇦 заповітний
🇵🇱 testamentowy
🇯🇵 遺言の
🇫🇷 testamentaire
🇪🇸 testamentario
🇹🇷 vasiyetname
🇰🇷 유언의
🇸🇦 وصية
🇨🇿 testamentární
🇸🇰 testamentárny
🇨🇳 遗嘱的
🇸🇮 testamentarni
🇮🇸 testamentary
🇰🇿 мұрагерлік
🇬🇪 მემკვიდრეობითი
🇦🇿 vasiyyət
🇲🇽 testamentario
Etymology
The word 'testamentary' originates from the Latin term 'testamentum', meaning 'will' or 'testament'. This Latin root itself comes from 'testari', which translates to 'to make a will or testify'. The use of 'testamentary' in English legal terminology began to emerge in the late Middle Ages as the legal system became more structured regarding inheritance and the administration of estates. During this period, the differentiation between various legal terms related to wills became crucial, leading to the formal adoption of 'testamentary' to signify actions and documents related specifically to a deceased person's will. Over time, the application of the term has expanded, particularly in modern estate planning and law, emphasizing the importance of adhering to a person's wishes regarding their legacy.