Last Will & Testament – Specific Gifts by Tony B. Manns

In your Last Will & Testament (“Will”), you may want to leave specific gifts to specific people. This is typically called a specific bequest. You might have some special family heirloom like jewelry or an antique vehicle that you want to make sure goes to a specific child, grandchild or friend of the family. One way to accomplish this is to list each item in your Will with enough detail to make it clear, such as “To my son, John D. Smith, I bequest my 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.” You should also make it clear what happens if that person predeceases you. Another option is to state in your Will that there is a list with items and names located in a certain place, such as your bedroom dresser or a safety deposit box. The danger with this option is that if the list is not found, all of the items you wanted to go to specific people will pass pursuant to the remaining terms of your Will.

You should consult your elder law attorney to ensure that your preferences for your specific Will are valid and tailored to your requests.