LegalInitials
Definition of Legal Initials
Author Unknown
Submitted by Joyce Munson

Initials after your ancestor's names may provide useful information that you'd not expected.
The following list includes initials you may come across when reading old wills or other documents:

a.a.s. (anno aetitis suae)-died in the year of his/her age  (75y/o or died in year 75 of his/her life)
d.s.p. (decessit sine prole legitima)-died without issue
d.s.p.l. (decessit sine prole mascula supesita)-died without legitimate issue
d.s.p.m.s. (decessit sine prole mascula supersita)-died without surviving male issue
d.s.p.s (decessit sine prole  supersita)-died without surviving issue
d.unm -died unmarried
d.v.p.  (decessit vita patris)-died in the lifetime of his father
d.v.m. (decessit vita matris)-died in the lifetime of his mother
Et al (et alia)-and others
fmc / fwc -free man of color / free woman of color
Inst (instans)-present month
Liber  -book or volume
Nepos -grandson
Nunc -Nuncapative will, an oral will, written by a witness
Ob (obit)-he/she died
Relict  (relicta/relictus)-widow or widower
Sic -so or thus, exact copy as written
Testes -witnesses
Utl  (ultimo)-late
Ux or vs  (uxor)-wife
Viz  (videlicet)-namely
 

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