There are many legal terms that are used throughout the writing of a will and here is a basic summary of the most commonly used ones within the UK will system.

A codicil is an amendment that can be made to an existing will that has already been written. A devise is the special gift of real property in a will. The term 'real property' should be defined at this point. Real property is considered to be actual real estate, land, houses and any immovable property. Personal property is usually defined as property that can be moved from one place to another. A bequest within a will is a gift usually in the form of personal property. A legacy is different from a bequest as it refers to a gift of either personal property or real property. A demonstrative legacy also known as a specific gift is a personal item of tangible or intangible value that is bequest to an individual such as a bank account or personal private property like private letters. An executor or personal representative is the person that has been chosen by the testator to execute and administer the will. To die testate is to die having made a will, to die intestate is to die without having made a will.

Making a will was until fairly recently a right of the wealthy and often people would die intestate and then it would be divided by law to the spouse surviving. However the advent of technology and make your own will has made it extremely simple for an individual to create a valid will simply by ordering a pack over the internet or purchasing through their local bookstore.