What term describes a person who dies leaving a valid will?

The term that describes a person who dies leaving a valid will is "Testator." When someone creates a will, they are often referred to as a testator, which is a legal term that indicates they have expressed their wishes regarding the distribution of their property and the care of any dependents. A testator has provided clear instructions on how their assets should be handled after their death, which can help prevent disputes among heirs and beneficiaries.

In contrast, the term decedent refers generally to any person who has died, without specific reference to whether they had a will. Intestate describes a situation in which a person dies without a valid will, resulting in their estate being distributed according to state intestacy laws, rather than their personal wishes. The executor is the individual appointed to administer the estate according to the instructions in the will, but this role is separate from that of the testator, who is the one making the will in the first place.