Decedent

Probate & Legal

The legal term for the person who has died, used throughout probate, trust administration, and tax filings.

A decedent is the person who has died. Arizona probate filings, trust administration documents, life insurance claims, and federal estate tax returns all use this term as the formal way to identify the deceased.

Why the Term Matters

Using a single, precise word helps separate the deceased's affairs from those of heirs, beneficiaries, and personal representatives. "The decedent's estate," "the decedent's trust," and "the decedent's debts" each refer to property and obligations being administered.

The personal representative manages the decedent's probate estate. The successor trustee manages the decedent's trust. Heirs are people who would inherit if the decedent left no will, and devisees are people named in the will.