A gift by will of designated Personal Property.
A specific legacy is revoked if the testator—the maker of the will—no longer owned the property at the time of his or her death or the property no longer existed. In some jurisdictions, a court will continue a provision for a specific legacy as one for a demonstrative legacy if it is clear that the testator intended the heir to receive the gift in any event.
n. a gift in a will of a certain article or property to a certain person or persons. (See: specific bequest, specific devise, will, legacy)
SPECIFIC LEGACY. A bequest of a particular thing.
2. It follows that a specific legacy may be of animals or inanimate
things, provided they are specified and separated from all other things; a
specific legacy may therefore be of money in a bag, or of money marked and
so described; as, I give two eagles to A B, on which are engraved the
initials of my name. A specific legacy may also be given out of a general
fund. Touch. 433 Amb. 310; 4 Ves. 565; 3 Ves. & Bea. 5. If the specific
article given be, not found among the assets of the testator, the legatee
loses his legacy; but on the other hand, if there be a deficiency of assets,
the specific legacy will not be liable to abate with the general legacies. 1
Vern. 31; 1 P. Wms. 422; 3 P. Wms. 365; 3 Bro. C. C. 160; vide 1 Roper on
Leg. 150; 1 Supp. to Ves. jr. 209. Id. 231; 2 Id. 112; and articles
Legacy; Legatee.