Daily AncestorLegatee
A legatee is a person who receives a gift, called a legacy, under a will, usually of money or personal property.
A legatee receives a legacy, a gift left by a will. Strictly the term was for personal property such as money or goods, but it is often used for anyone named to inherit.
Probate files may contain receipts signed by each legatee when they were paid, which can show married names and where people had moved by the time the estate was settled.
As seen in a recordCounty probate court record, 1800s
Received of the executor fifty dollars, my full legacy. Ann Moore, legatee.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Legatee." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/legatee. Last checked 2026-10-01.