What is the term for a gift of personal property by will?

The term for a gift of personal property by will is indeed referred to as a bequest. A bequest specifically signifies the act of leaving personal property—such as money, jewelry, or other forms of tangible or intangible items—to a designated beneficiary through the directives outlined in a will.

Understanding the distinction among terms is essential in the context of wills and estate planning. While a legacy often pertains to gifts of money or general property, and devise refers specifically to the act of bequeathing real property (land or buildings), a bequest is the correct terminology for personal property. Distribution generally refers to the process of allocating the assets of an estate as per the instructions in a will or according to state laws if no will exists, making it less precise than the other terms in this context.

Thus, the identification of bequest as the term for a gift of personal property underscores its specific application in estate law, differentiating it from related concepts.