Legal Definitions - pecuniary legacy

A pecuniary legacy refers to a gift of a specific sum of money made to an individual or organization through a will. It is a direct bequest of cash, as opposed to a gift of a specific item of property (like a house or a car) or a share of the remaining assets of an estate.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: A will contains the clause, "I give the sum of $10,000 to my friend, Michael Chen."

  Explanation: This is a pecuniary legacy because the will explicitly directs a specific amount of money ($10,000) to be given to Michael. It is a cash gift, not a physical item or a percentage of the overall estate.

• Example 2: A deceased person's will states, "I bequeath $5,000 to the Children's Hospital Foundation."

  Explanation: In this scenario, the Children's Hospital Foundation receives a specific monetary gift of $5,000 from the estate. This direct allocation of a fixed sum of money makes it a pecuniary legacy.

• Example 3: A will includes the provision, "To my granddaughter, Emily, I leave $25,000 to assist with her university tuition."

  Explanation: Even though the will suggests a purpose for the money, the gift itself is a specific amount of cash ($25,000). The nature of the gift is monetary, making it a pecuniary legacy, regardless of the suggested use.