A broad legal document that outlines an individual’s healthcare preferences should they become unable to communicate their wishes. The living will is an example of an advance directive. Other terms:Advance Decision (UK)
Glossary
Glossary
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A
A specific type of advance directive detailing the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures a person wants or does not want.
A broader term encompassing organ, tissue, or body donation for medical purposes or scientific research.
B
An individual or entity designated to receive assets or benefits from wills, trusts, insurance policies, or retirement accounts.
Time off from work granted to an employee after the death of a family member or close loved one.
A specific area of land in a cemetery where a person is laid to rest.
C
A container used to hold the body of the deceased for burial or cremation.
A more uplifting event or service that focuses on remembering a loved one’s life achievements and personal stories.
A provision in a will or trust designating that certain assets be given to a charity.
A structure with niches designed to store urns holding cremated remains.
A brief ceremony held at the graveside or place of interment following a funeral or memorial.
Care focused on emotional support, comfort, and empathy for patients facing serious illness or end-of-life situations.
Expressions of sympathy offered to someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.
The process of reducing a body to ashes through intense heat, often chosen as an alternative to traditional burial.
D
An official document issued by a government authority stating the date, location, and cause of a person’s death.
Online or electronic assets such as social media accounts, emails, domain names, and digital currencies.
The total sum of a person’s digital assets and online presence that may need management or transfer after death.
The online presence, data, and digital property one leaves behind for others to manage or inherit. Check out our guide to digital legacy and what happens to your online accounts after you die!
The intentional act of excluding someone (usually a potential heir) from receiving assets in a will.
The chosen method for dealing with a body after death, including burial, cremation, or other means.
E
A process that uses chemicals to preserve the body and delay decomposition for viewing and funeral services.
The process of managing and distributing a deceased person’s assets, settling debts, and filing necessary tax returns.
A type of insurance or surety bond required in some jurisdictions to protect beneficiaries from any misconduct by an executor.
A strategy used to minimize or defer taxes on the future growth of assets intended for beneficiaries.
The process of arranging for the management and disposal of one’s estate during life and after death.
An organized sale of possessions from someone’s estate, typically after they move or pass away.
A tax on the transfer of assets from a deceased person’s estate to their beneficiaries.
A document that conveys personal values, life lessons, and hopes for future generations, rather than distributing assets.
A speech or written tribute delivered at a funeral or memorial service, celebrating the life of the deceased.
The person named in a will who carries out the directives of the will, ensuring debts are paid and assets are distributed properly.