To bequeath is to give personal property via a will, where the personal property owned by the decedent at the time of death is disposed of as a gift. Traditionally, bequeathing has been used to give personal property, while devising has been used to give real property. However, bequeathing the real property is also recognized by the courts if the will clearly indicates the intent to bequeath the real property to someone. Sometimes courts interpret “bequeath” as synonymous with “give” and use it for both gifts of real and personal property.
[Last updated in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]