Legatarer

Legatarer refers to individuals or entities designated to receive a legacy from a deceased person's estate. A legacy, in this context, is a specific bequest of personal property, as opposed to real estate, which is typically handled through a devise. The terms of the legacy are outlined in a will or testament. A legatarer has a legal right to claim the bequeathed item or sum of money, provided the estate has sufficient assets and all prior claims, such as debts and expenses, have been settled.

The role and rights of a legatarer are governed by inheritance law, which can vary significantly between jurisdictions. If an estate is insolvent, meaning its debts exceed its assets, specific legacies may be reduced or extinguished entirely. In cases of partial intestacy, where a portion of an estate is not covered by a will, the rules of intestacy will determine the distribution of those assets, and individuals may qualify as beneficiaries under those rules as well. A legatarer typically does not incur any liability for the debts of the deceased unless specifically stipulated in the will and permitted by law. The executor or administrator of the estate is responsible for identifying all legatarers and distributing the legacies according to the deceased's wishes and legal requirements.