property
bequest
A bequest is a gift of personal property, such as money, jewelry, or vehicles, made through a will. The person receiving it is the legatee. Traditionally, a gift of real property by will is called a devise, and the recipient is a devisee, although some modern statutes and documents use the terms more loosely. Bequests are distributed through probate after the will is validated and debts are paid.
- Exam tip
- Bequest or legacy = personal property; devise = real property. This distinction is a frequent exam question.
- Example
- A will leaves the testator's coin collection to her nephew as a bequest and her lake house to her daughter as a devise.
Related terms & state variants
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Last verified: 2026-10-23