Kansas Funeral Director Practice Exam

What document is defined as a written declaration of how a person's property will be distributed after their death?

1. Codicil

2. Trust

3. Will

4. Contract

The correct answer is: Will

The correct choice, which identifies a document that serves as a written declaration of how a person's property will be distributed after their death, is indeed a will. A will is a legal document that outlines an individual's wishes regarding the distribution of their assets, the care of any minor children, and the appointment of executors. It provides clear instructions to ensure that the individual’s estate is settled according to their preferences after they pass away. A codicil serves as an amendment to an existing will, allowing changes to be made without writing an entirely new document. A trust, on the other hand, involves a fiduciary arrangement that allows a third party, or trustee, to hold assets on behalf of beneficiaries, and it is often utilized to manage and distribute property during a person's lifetime as well as after death. A contract is a broader term that refers to any agreement between parties and does not specifically pertain to the distribution of property upon death.