• Deceased - dead.

• Decedent - a deceased person.

• Declaration of Intention - first paper, sworn to and filed in court, by an alien stating that he wants to become a citizen.

• Deed - a document by which title in real property is transferred from one party to another.

• Deposition - a testifying or testimony taken down in writing under oath of affirmation in reply to interrogatories, before a competent officer to replace the oral testimony of a witness.

• Devise - gift of real property by will.

• Devisee - one to whom real property (land) is given in a will.

• Devisor - one who gives real property in a will.

• District Land Office Plat Book - books or rather maps which show the location of the land patentee.

• District Land Office Tract Book - books which list individual entries by range and township.

• Dower - legal right or share which a wife acquired by marriage in the real estate of her husband, allotted to her after his death for her lifetime.

• Emigrant - one leaving a country and moving to another.

• Enumeration - listing or counting , such as a census.

• Epitaph - an inscription on or at a tomb or grave in memory of the one buried there.

• Escheat - the reversion of property to the state when there are no qualified heirs.

• Estate - all property and debts belonging to a person.

• Et Al - Latin for "and others".

• Et Ux - Latin for "and wife".

• Executor - one appointed in a will to carry out its provisions. 

• Fee - an estate of inheritance in land, being either fee simple or fee tail. An estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services.

• Fee Simple - an absolute ownership without restriction.

• Fee Tail - An estate of inheritance limited to lineal descendant heirs of a person to whom it was granted.

• Fraternity - group of men (or women) sharing a common purpose or interest.

• Free Hold - an estate in fee simple, in fee tail, or for life.

Source: Provided by Dan Burrows.

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