Legal Definitions - designate

To designate means to formally name, appoint, or specify a person, entity, or item for a particular purpose, role, or status. It implies a deliberate and often official act of selection, conferring a specific identity or function.

• Example 1: Estate Planning

  When an individual creates a will, they designate specific individuals or organizations as beneficiaries to receive their assets after their passing. For instance, a person might designate their spouse to inherit their home and their children to receive a portion of their financial investments. This act of designation legally establishes who will inherit the property according to the will-maker's wishes.

• Example 2: Corporate Authority

  A company's board of directors might designate a particular executive as the authorized signatory for all contracts exceeding a certain monetary value. This means the board has formally appointed that executive to hold the specific power and responsibility to sign such agreements on behalf of the corporation, ensuring legal validity and accountability.

• Example 3: Public Policy and Land Use

  A municipal government might designate a specific urban area as a "historic district." By doing so, they are formally identifying that area as having significant historical value, which then triggers special zoning regulations and preservation guidelines to protect its unique character. This designation impacts future development and renovation projects within that district.