Legal Definitions - alternate legacy

An alternate legacy is a type of legacy in which the testator allows the legatee to choose one of two or more items. It is a gift by will, especially of personal property and often of money.

• A testator leaves a will that gives his son the option to choose between a car or a house as his inheritance.
• A testator leaves a will that gives his daughter the option to choose between a sum of money or a piece of jewelry as her inheritance.

These examples illustrate how an alternate legacy allows the legatee to choose between two or more items as their inheritance. The testator gives the legatee the power to choose what they want to inherit, which can be beneficial if the legatee has a preference or if the items have different values.