![Review of Reviews: “A Taxonomy of Testamentary Intent,” 25 Geo. Mason L. Rev. (forthcoming 2016) Review of Reviews: “A Taxonomy of Testamentary Intent,” 25 Geo. Mason L. Rev. (forthcoming 2016)](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltabaa95ef14172c61/bltb1a086e60f0eaa3d/6733f7c3701a6963edac38fb/promo-ror_0.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
It’s a funny phrase, “testamentary intent.” It’s a little like “ATM Machine” or “PIN Number.”
The word “testament” comes to us from Roman law (via the Norman Conquest). A “testamentum” in Roman law, from the word “testari” meaning “to witness or testify,” was a formal “expression of intent” for the disposition of property at death. There were three different methods of executing a testamentum, but they all had in common certain formalities (for example, competent witnesses, the decedent’s affirmation that he was undertaking to transfer property at death and, in some cases, formal acknowledgement by a judicial body), all designed to ensure the document was a faithful expression of the decedent’s intent.
The same is true for the Anglo-Saxon ...
Unlock All Access Premium Subscription
Get Trusts & Estates articles, digital editions, and an optional print subscription. Choose your subscription now and dive into expert insights today!
Already Subscribed?