What is the term for the person who creates a will?

The term for the person who creates a will is "testator." A testator is an individual who makes a legally binding declaration of their wishes concerning the distribution of their estate after their death. When someone prepares a will, they are defining how their assets and property should be allocated, and they generally name an executor to carry out those wishes upon their passing.

In the context of estate law, a beneficiary is someone who is entitled to receive assets or benefits under the will, not the person who writes it. An executor is designated by the testator to administer the estate and ensure that the directives in the will are fulfilled, but the executor is not the one who creates the document. A settlor, on the other hand, typically refers to a person who establishes a trust rather than a will. Thus, recognizing that the role of a testator is distinct and foundational in the estate planning process confirms that "testator" is indeed the correct term for someone who makes a will.