Bequest

A bequest is a gift made under a Will, traditionally of personal property (such as jewellery, money or shares) rather than land. In everyday Australian usage the word is used broadly for any gift to a beneficiary. A gift of money is more precisely a pecuniary legacy, while a gift of a particular item is a specific gift.

Bequests are listed in the Will before the residue is divided, and they are paid out of the estate after debts are settled. Example: "I bequeath my grandmother's pearl necklace to my niece, Hannah." If the specific item no longer exists at death, the bequest may fail through ademption.