bequeaths

Bequeaths is the third-person singular present tense of the verb bequeath, meaning to leave personal property to someone in a will. It is a term commonly used in estate planning and probate to describe how a testator transfers assets after death. The act of bequeathing is part of the testamentary process, in which the deceased’s wishes are carried out under the supervision of an executor and subject to probate.

In practice, a bequest specifies who will receive certain property or sums of money from the estate. The recipient is a beneficiary, and the property left by bequest may include cash, jewelry, heirlooms, or other personal property. When real estate is involved, the language used in law may reference devising the property, though terminology varies by jurisdiction; bequest is often used as a general term for property left by a will.

Bequests can be classified in several ways. A specific bequest designates a particular item; a general bequest refers to a sum of money or a proportion of the estate; a demonstrative bequest combines a specific amount with a designation for payment from a particular source; a residuary bequest covers the remainder of the estate after other bequests have been fulfilled. Conditions or qualifications may accompany a bequest, such as geographic limits or time-based restrictions.

In modern usage, bequeath and its forms appear primarily in legal, formal, and literary contexts. The operation of bequests is governed by the will, the probate process, and applicable tax laws, and outcomes can be affected by challenges to the will or by changes in circumstances after the testator’s death.