Testamentário

Testamentário is an adjective and term used in Portuguese to refer to matters relating to a will (testamento) and the disposition of a deceased person’s estate. It can describe the law of wills (direito testamentário), the administration of an estate after death, and individuals associated with a will, such as heirs designated in the will (herdeiros testamentários) or the person charged with managing the estate (testamenteiro or executor testamentário). The expression is common in civil law jurisdictions of Portuguese-speaking countries.

In practical terms, testamentário matters encompass the creation, validity, and interpretation of testaments, including the requirements that govern how a will is made and what capacities the testator must have. After death, the assets and obligations of the estate are settled in a probate or inventory process (inventário testamentário). This process may be conducted judicially or extrajudicially, depending on the jurisdiction and the specifics of the case.

The term also appears in academic and professional contexts examining jurisprudence, estate planning, and the administration of succession. While the exact procedures and terminology vary by country, testamentário broadly covers the legal framework governing how a will operates and how the estate is distributed according to the decedent’s dispositions.

Notes: In many Lusophone countries, specific roles and concepts arise in connection with testamentary matters, including the testator, the testamenteiro (executor), and testamentary heirs. The precise forms, formalities, and steps for creating a will and carrying out its provisions differ according to local law.