Bequest or legacy is best described as?

• A. A transfer of real property by will.
• B. A claim against decedent
• C. A guardian
• D. A transfer of personal property by will.

Answer: (D)

Bequest or legacy refers to a gift of personal property made by a will. In estate law, gifts of real property are called devises, while gifts of personal property (cash, jewelry, household items, etc.) are bequests or legacies. So when a will states a bequest or legacy to someone, it means they are receiving personal property or money, not real estate. The other options don’t fit because a guardian is a role in caring for a minor or incapacitated person, and a claim against the decedent is a creditor’s claim, not a gift under the will. A transfer of real property by will would be a devise, not a bequest.