What is the term for the person designated to receive a specific bequest in a will?

The term for the person designated to receive a specific bequest in a will is "legatee." A legatee is an individual who is named in a will to receive a particular asset or item. This could include specific personal property, money, or other designated property that the testator wishes to be transferred to them upon the testator's death.

Beneficiaries, while they may receive bequests, typically refer to individuals entitled to inherit assets in general, which can encompass both specific and residual assets. Executors are responsible for the administration of the estate, ensuring that the wishes of the testator are carried out according to the will, rather than personally receiving any bequests. Trustees manage assets held in a trust and do not typically receive bequests in a will; instead, they manage the trust for the benefit of others. Thus, the specific designation of a "legatee" accurately captures someone chosen to receive a particular gift bequeathed in a will.