Historically, the feminine form of testator, referring to a female person who makes or has made a will. Modern legal practice has largely abandoned this gendered terminology in favor of the gender-neutral term "testator" for all will-makers regardless of gender.
Testatrix is an old-fashioned term for a woman who made a will. You'll see it in older wills and legal documents, but today we just use "testator" for everyone, regardless of gender.
⏱ When you'll encounter this term
- Reading older wills and estate documents
- Historical probate records and cases
- Legal documents from previous generations
- Academic or historical legal research
"Grandma's 1965 will said 'I, Mary Jones, the testatrix, hereby declare...' Today, a will would just say 'I, Mary Jones, the testator'—we don't use the feminine form anymore."
⚖️ Compare: Testatrix vs Testator
Gendered term. For women only. Used in older documents. Largely obsolete today.
Gender-neutral term. For anyone. Used in modern documents. Current standard practice.
💡 Did you know?
Along with "testatrix," legal language historically used other gendered terms like "executrix" (female executor) and "administratrix" (female administrator). Modern legal drafting has moved away from these gendered forms, recognizing them as unnecessary and outdated.