in Law, a catalogue or schedule orderly made, of all the deceased person's goods and chattels at the time of his death, with their value appraised by different persons, which every executor or administrator is obliged to exhibit to the ordinary at such time as he shall appoint.

By 21 Hen. VIII. c. v. executors and administrators are Inventory are to deliver in upon oath to the ordinary, indented inventories, one part of which is to remain with the ordinary, and the other part with the executor or administrator; this is required for the benefit of the creditors and legatees, that the executor or administrator may not conceal any part of the personal estate from them. The statute ordains, that the inventory shall be exhibited within three months after the person's decease; yet it may be done afterwards; for the ordinary may dispense with the time, and even with its being ever exhibited, as in cases where the creditors are paid, and the will is executed.