A gift of personal property received through a will is known as what?

A gift of personal property received through a will is specifically referred to as a bequest. This term is used to denote the act of leaving personal property to an individual or organization in a will. The distinction lies in the nature of the property being given; a bequest typically pertains to items such as money, jewelry, or personal belongings, differentiating it from other terms associated with gifts in the context of wills.

The term legacy is often used interchangeably with bequest; however, it traditionally refers to a gift of money or financial assets rather than personal property. Meanwhile, an estate transfer refers to the overall process of distributing the entirety of a deceased person's estate, encompassing all their assets, liabilities, and obligations. A donation, on the other hand, generally refers to a voluntary transfer of goods or funds during one’s lifetime, rather than through a will. Therefore, "bequest" is the most precise term to denote a gift of personal property specified in a will.