Letter Testamentary is a document issued by a probate court. A probate court validates and processes wills after someone dies. If one is named executor on an estate of their will, then when they pass away you take on the responsibility of making sure that the terms of the Will are taken care of. This includes paying bills, closing bank accounts, locating assets, and giving property to the beneficiaries named in the will.

The legal definition of a letter of testamentary is a legal document issued by a probate court that gives an executor the power to act in a fiduciary manner on behalf of the estate. Letter of testamentary is presented with the death certificate whenever a person needs to handle estate business to show that you have the authority to act on the estate’s behalf.