Which term describes a person who receives real property through a will and also describes a beneficiary who receives personal property?

• A. Legatee
• B. Devisee
• C. Bequest
• D. Specific bequest

Answer: (A)

In wills terminology, recipients are described by what they receive. A person who inherits real property is usually called a devisee, while a person who inherits personal property is called a legatee. The term legatee is commonly used to refer to a beneficiary named in a will, and in practice it can cover beneficiaries of personal property and, in broader usage, can describe someone who inherits under a will regardless of the asset type. The other terms are more specific to the gift themselves or to real-property recipients: a bequest is the gift itself (typically of personal property), a specific bequest refers to a particular item, and a devisee is the receiver of real property. Therefore, legatee best fits as the term for a person who receives real property through a will and also describes a beneficiary who receives personal property.