Bereavement terms and useful contacts

Administrator
A person who obtains the Grant of Letters of Administration. This entitles them to deal with the estate if no will was made.

Beneficiary
A person who inherits:

• Under the terms of a will
• By the rules of intestacy (if no will was made).

Confirmation
This is the Scottish equivalent to a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.

Death Certificate
This is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The registrar will provide you with as many copies as you ask for. You’ll just need to pay a fee.

This can help to save time if you need to register the death with lots of places at once.

Executor
The person named in a will. This who is deals with the estate and obtains a Grant of Probate.

Grant of Letters of Administration
This is used to appoint an Administrator who can then deal with the estate if no will was made.

Grant of Probate
A formal court document. It is issued by the Probate Service. It confirms the appointment of the Executor named in the will.

Grant of Representation
This is a term used to cover both the:

• Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration
• ​​​​​​​Confirmations (in Scotland).

Letters of Administration
A formal court document issued by the Probate Service to appoint an Administrator. This is often the next of kin to the deceased.

This is issued where:

• There is no will
• ​​​​​​​The Executor appointed in the will is unable or unwilling to act.

Personal Representative(s)
This is the term used for small estate claims when a statutory declaration or Small Estates Indemnity form is to be used.