In legal terminology, handwritten wills made entirely in the testator’s own handwriting are commonly known by which of the following terms?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Holographic

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
In law, a will is a document by which a person states how their property should be distributed after death. There are different types of wills, and terminology can be quite specific. One category consists of wills written entirely in the testator’s own handwriting, sometimes without formal typing or printing. The question checks if you know the correct legal term commonly applied to such handwritten wills.


Given Data / Assumptions:
• The focus is on wills that are handwritten by the testator.
• The options list similar sounding terms: Homographic, Solographic, Holographic, Monographic, and Calligraphic.
• You must identify which term is used in legal contexts for handwritten wills.
• The question is conceptual rather than jurisdiction specific, using the widely recognised vocabulary.


Concept / Approach:
The correct term is “holographic will”. In many legal systems, a holographic will is one that is entirely in the handwriting of the testator and usually signed by them. Such wills may have different validity rules depending on the jurisdiction, but the term “holographic” is widely used. The other options either do not exist as legal categories of wills or refer to unrelated ideas, and are included mainly to confuse candidates who only rely on sound similarity rather than exact terminology.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question describes wills written entirely in the handwriting of the person making the will. Step 2: Recall the legal term for such documents as used in law textbooks and exam materials. Step 3: Recognise that “holographic will” is the term used for a handwritten will. Step 4: Match this term to the option list and find “Holographic”. Step 5: Select “Holographic” as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can cross recall that in many legal discussions, there is a debate about whether holographic wills should be accepted without witnesses if they clearly show the testator’s intention. This confirms the association between “holographic” and handwritten. The other terms, such as “homographic” or “monographic”, do not have the same established use in will classification, which reinforces the correctness of your choice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Homographic: This term is not a standard category in will classification and may suggest something else related to writing or scripts rather than a formal legal term for a will.
Solographic: This is not a recognised legal term for a type of will and appears to be a distractor created from similar sounding parts.
Monographic: Usually refers to a detailed written study on a single subject, not a category of will.
Calligraphic: This refers to decorative or artistic handwriting, not the legal status of a handwritten will.


Common Pitfalls:
The most common pitfall is to choose the option that “sounds right” without having encountered the exact term in legal reading. Because many of the distractor options share similar roots like “graphic”, they can mislead candidates. Another error is to confuse “holographic” with “holistic” or other unrelated words. Studying basic legal vocabulary, especially names of common document types, helps avoid such guessing errors in exams.


Final Answer:
Handwritten wills made entirely in the testator’s own handwriting are commonly known as holographic wills.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion