testament

Testament is a term with several related meanings. In law, it denotes a will — a legal document by which a person, the testator, disposes of property and other affairs after death. The term is commonly used as “last will and testament.” In religious contexts, the word denotes a covenant or sacred agreement, most notably the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The word derives from the Latin testamentum, from testis “witness,” originally meaning that which is witnessed or a covenant.

Legal will: A will names beneficiaries, appoints an executor, and may nominate guardians for minor children. Wills can be formal, witnessed documents, or, in some jurisdictions, oral (nuncupative) or handwritten (holographic). A codicil is a document that modifies an existing will. To be valid, many systems require testamentary capacity (the testator’s understanding of the nature of the act and its consequences) and proper execution under statutory formalities. Wills are typically probated after death, with a court overseeing the distribution of assets and estates. A will can be revoked by a later will, by a codicil, or by destruction of the document, depending on jurisdiction.

In religious use, the term reflects the covenants or promises described in sacred scriptures and, in Christian usage, the arrangement between God and humanity as presented in the Bible. The concept of a testament thus intersects law, inheritance, family lineage, and faith.