Bequest and legacy are two similar words. They both mean a transfer of property after the owner’s death.
However, they are not synonyms. A bequest is something that a person gives away while a legacy is something that a person leaves behind.
Summary Table
Bequest | Legacy |
Refers to personal property | Refers to an amount of money |
Refers to something given away after death according to will | Refers to something given away after death as an inheritance |
Definitions
A bequest is something that a person gives away after their death. It is a transfer of property to someone other than the owner of the estate.
For example, an heir can leave his inheritance to his or her children after he dies.
This means that there will be no more ownership of his assets in the estate after his death.
He will only be able to use it for personal purposes until he leaves it to another person or persons by way of a bequest or by way of his will.
A legacy is something that a person leaves behind after his or her death. It is a gift to another person. For example, an heir can leave his inheritance to his children after he dies.
He will only be able to use it for personal purposes until he leaves it to another person or persons by way of a legacy or by way of his will.
Difference Between Bequest and Legacy
The main difference between a bequest and a legacy is that a bequest is something that a person gives away after their death. It is a transfer of property to someone other than the owner of the estate. For example, an heir can leave his inheritance to his or her children after he dies.
A legacy is something that a person leaves behind after his or her death. It is a gift to another person. For example, an heir can leave his inheritance to his children after he dies.
An example of a bequest is when you leave your house and possessions to your spouse and children when you die. You have not given them ownership of your house and belongings before you die but you have given them rights over them when you die by way of this bequest.
You are also giving away your belongings when you die in the form of any properties, money, or investments that you own at the time of your death without making these available for distribution among other people as part of your estate after death.