Will

A will, sometimes known as a last will and testament, is a legal document in which an individual specifies how they would like their property and assets to be distributed after their death. Typically, a will outlines instructions for distributing property, appoints guardians for minor children, and names an executor to administer the estate. 

The person who creates a will is referred to as the testator, and those who receive assets from a will are referred to as beneficiaries. Beneficiaries might be individuals, groups of people, or organizations such as charities. 

If an individual dies intestate—meaning without a will—the laws of intestacy in the jurisdiction where they lived determines how their assets are distributed.