Women and Wills

There are some legal terms you might run into when it comes to women being named in wills.  Dowager is a woman who has property from her husband.  Relict is another term for a widow.  Testratrix refers to a woman who leaves a valid will.  These are just a few of the terms you may run into hunting for your female ancestors.  It's important to know the difference between a testratrix and an administratrix (a woman a court appoints to administer an estate when no valid will is established) so you won't make the mistake of believing your relative was an heir when in fact she was a court appointed executer.