Floating Paper

✍️Devise

Devise is a legal term in Real Estate and Estates Law that refers to the transfer of **real property** (like land or a house) as a gift, specifically through a will or testament.1

Key Points

  • **Real Property Only:** The term **devise** is used exclusively for real property (immovable assets).
  • **Devisor:** The person who makes the gift in the will (the deceased testator) is called the **devisor**.2
  • **Devisee:** The person who receives the real property gift is called the **devisee**.
  • **Contrast with Bequest/Legacy:** The transfer of **personal property** (moveable assets like cash, jewelry, or stocks) through a will is referred to as a **bequest** or **legacy**.