Daily Ancestor

Drawer · 82 cards

Legal and land terms

Wills, probate, deeds and land patents.

Quiz me on these Printable sheet

A printed South Carolina land grant filled in by hand, beside a hand-drawn survey plat of 500 acres — A 1796 South Carolina land grant to James Mims with the survey plat of his 500 acres.State of South Carolina (Library of Congress), Public domain

A

AAbstract of titleSummary of a property's recorded history AAcre43,560 square feet of land AAdministratorCourt-appointed settler of an estate AAdministratrixFeminine form of administrator (court-appointed)AAppraisementValuation of an estate's goods AAssigneePerson who receives a transferred right AAttestWitness and confirm by signature

B

BBequeathGive personal property by will BBondPromise to pay a sum if duties fail BBounty land warrantLand rights granted for military service

C

CCash entryFederal land bought outright for cash CChanceryEquity court for disputes like estates CChattelMovable personal property, not land CCodicilLater addition that amends a will CConsiderationPrice or value paid in a deed CConveyanceTransfer of property, or the deed doing it CCounty courtLocal court, often also running county business CCurtesyWidower's life right in his wife's land

D

DDeedWritten document transferring land DDeed of giftDeed giving property for no payment DDeed of trustLand put in trust to secure a debt DDeviseGive land by will DDeviseePerson who receives land by will DDowerWidow's life right in part of husband's land

E

EEscheatLand passing to the state when no heirs exist EExecutorPerson named in a will to settle the estate EExecutrixFeminine form of executor (named in a will)

F

FFee simpleFull ownership of land FFee tailLand that had to pass to direct descendants FFinal certificateLand office proof that a claim was complete FFreeholdLand owned for life or forever, not rented

G

GGranteePerson who receives land in a deed GGrantorPerson who transfers land in a deed GGuardian bondBond guaranteeing a guardian's honest care GGuardianshipCourt-given care of a minor's affairs GGunter's chainSurveyor's chain of 66 feet

H

HHeadrightColonial land grant per person transported HHeir at lawPerson who inherits by law, with no will HHis markX signed in place of a name HHolographic willWill in the testator's own handwriting HHomestead entryClaim to free federal land by settling it

I

IIndentureFormal agreement, such as a deed IIntestateDied without a valid will IInventoryList of a dead person's property for court

L

LLegateePerson who receives money or goods by will LLetters of administrationCourt order appointing an administrator LLetters testamentaryCourt document confirming an executor LLife estateRight to land for one person's lifetime LLis pendensNotice of a pending lawsuit over land LLotNumbered parcel of land on a plat

M

MMessuageHouse with its outbuildings and yard MMetes and boundsLand described by boundary lines and landmarks MMortgageLand pledged as security for a loan

N

NNuncupative willOral will spoken before witnesses

O

OOrphans' courtProbate court (Pennsylvania, Maryland)

P

PPartitionDivision of jointly owned land PPatentFirst grant of title from the government PPer stirpesBy branch: heirs' children share their part PPersonal estatePersonalty: all property except land PPower of attorneyDocument authorizing someone to act for you PPreemptionSettler's right to buy land first PProbateCourt proof of a will and estate settlement PProbate courtCourt that handles wills and estates

Q

QQuarter section160 acres, one fourth of a section QQuitclaimDeed releasing any claim, with no guarantee QQuitrentYearly land rent owed to the Crown or proprietor

R

RRangeColumn of townships east or west of a meridian RReal estateLand and buildings (real property)RRecorder of deedsCounty officer who records land papers RRelease of dowerWife giving up her dower right in a sale RRodMeasure of 16.5 feet (pole or perch)

S

SSectionOne square mile (640 acres) in a survey SSheriff's saleCourt-ordered auction by the sheriff SSurveySurveyor's measuring of a tract before title

T

TTenant in commonCo-owner whose share passes to heirs TTenementLand or building held by someone TTestateDied leaving a valid will TTownship (survey)Six-mile-square block of 36 sections

V

VVenduePublic auction (as of estate goods)

W

WWarrantAuthority to survey and claim public land WWarranty deedDeed guaranteeing clear title WWidow's thirdPopular name for the one-third dower share