devisees

Devisee (plural devisees) is a legal term in common law identifying a person or entity named in a will to receive real property upon the death of the testator. The term derives from the act of devising real property and contrasts with legatees, who receive personal property by legacy. A devisee may be an individual, a corporation, a trust, or another legal entity. When a will transfers real property, the devisee's ownership generally passes through probate and becomes subject to debts, taxes, and administrative expenses of the estate.

In contrast to bequests of personal property, which go to legatees, a devise relates specifically to real property such as land or buildings. A will can confer a devise in fee simple, a life estate, or another form of contingent or future interest, such as an executory interest that vests in the devisee only upon the occurrence of a condition.

Some jurisdictions permit devises to be conditional, restricted, or accompanied by requirements—for example, to maintain the property, reach a certain age, or fulfill a specified purpose. A devisee may also disclaim the devise, in which case the property passes according to the will’s alternative provisions or intestate succession if no alternative exists.

Today, many jurisdictions use broader terminology such as beneficiary or heir, but the term devisee remains in older statutes and case law and is still encountered in wills dealing with real property.