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A bequest is the act of giving (not the act of receiving) property by will.[1] Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property.[2] In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest".


Bequest come from Old English becwethan, "to declare or express in words" — cf. "quoth".

Interpreting bequests[edit]

Part of the process of probate involves interpreting the instructions in a will. Some wordings that define the scope of a bequest have specific interpretations. "All the estate I own" would involve all of the decedent's possessions at the moment of death.[3]

A conditional bequest is a bequest that will be granted only if a particular event has occurred by the time of its operation. For example, a testator might write in the will that "Mary will receive the house held in trust if she is married" or "if she has children," etc.

An executory bequest is a bequest that will be granted only if a particular event occurs in the future. For example, a testator might write in the will that "Mary will receive the house held in trust set when she marries" or "when she has children".

Explaining bequests[edit]

In microeconomics theorists have engaged the issue of bequest from the perspective of consumption theory, in which they seek to explain the phenomenon in terms of a bequest motive.

US Tax Consequences[edit]

For the recipient[edit]

In order to calculate a taxpayer's income tax obligation, the gross income of the taxpayer must be determined. Under Section 61 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code gross income is "all income from whatever source derived".[4] On its face, the receipt of a bequest would seemingly fall within gross income and thus be subject to tax. However, in other sections of the code, exceptions are made for a variety of things that do not need to be included in gross income. Section 102(a) of the Code makes an exception for bequests stating that "Gross income does not include the value of property acquired by gift, bequest, or inheritance." [5] In general this means that the value or amount of the bequest does not need to be included in a taxpayer's gross income. This rule is not exclusive, however, and there are some exceptions under Section 102(b) of the code where the amount of value must be included.[5] There is great debate about whether or not bequests should be included in gross income and subject to income taxes, however there has been some type of exclusion for bequests in every Federal Income Tax Act.[6]

For the donor[edit]

One reason that the recipient of a bequest is usually not taxed on the bequest is because the donor may be taxed on it. Donors of bequests may be taxed through other mechanisms such as federal wealth transfer taxes.[6] Wealth Transfer taxes, however, are usually imposed against only the very wealthy.[6]


  1. ^ Black's Law Dictionary 8th ed, (West Group, 2004)
  2. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bequest". Encyclopædia Britannica 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 761. 
  3. ^, Law Dictionary: all the estate I own
  4. ^ "US CODE: Title 26,61. Gross income defined". Retrieved 2013-01-20. 
  5. ^ a b "US CODE: Title 26,102. Gifts and inheritances". Retrieved 2013-01-20. 
  6. ^ a b c Samuel A. Donaldson (2007). Federal Income Taxation of Individuals: Cases, Problems and Materials, 2nd Edition, St. Paul: Thomson/West, 93

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