Testators vs Grantors vs Parties

1) Testators

A testator is a person who creates and signs a will outlining how their assets, property, and estate should be distributed after their death. The testator is the individual whose wishes are being documented within the will. Depending on whether the file type is set to Single or Reciprocal, there may be either one testator or two testators on the file.

2) Grantors

A grantor is a person who creates a Power of Attorney document and gives another individual the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf. Depending on the type of Power of Attorney, these decisions may relate to financial matters, property, or personal care if the grantor becomes unable to make decisions independently.

3) Parties

Parties are individuals, corporations, or charities that a grantor or testator wishes to include in their documents. The role of a party depends on the type of file and the context of the matter, and may include roles such as Attorney for Property, Attorney for Personal Care, Beneficiary, Executor/Estate Trustee, or Guardian. Corporations and charities can only be listed as beneficiaries, meaning they may receive assets or benefits from an estate.