testamentary (testamentar i)

[= F. tes tamentaire = Sp. Pg. It. testament a rio, pertaining to a will or wills; also, relating to administration of the estates of deceased persons. He is in the mater as souverain juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie, and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is a proved in his court before his pre dec e our. Paston Letters , I. 373. This spiritual jurisdiction of testamentary causes is a peculiar constitution of this island; for in almost all other (even in popish) countries all matters testamentary are under the jurisdiction of the civil magistrate. Black stone, Com., III. vii.