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.

West's Encyclopedia of American Law. Copyright © 1998 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.