Legal Definitions - general devise

A general devise is a type of gift that is given in a will and is paid out of the estate's general assets. It is not a specific property, unlike a specific devise. For instance, if someone leaves $10,000 to their niece in their will, it is considered a general devise. The executor of the estate can pay out the $10,000 from any source of funds owned by the deceased person.

On the other hand, a specific devise is a gift that can be identified as a unique, discernable property. For example, if someone leaves their car to their son in their will, it is considered a specific devise.

Another example of a general devise is a gift of a certain percentage of the estate's value. For instance, if someone leaves 10% of their estate to a charity, it is considered a general devise because it is not a specific property.

These examples illustrate the definition of a general devise by showing that it is a type of gift that is not tied to a specific property. Instead, it is paid out of the estate's general assets, which can come from any source of funds owned by the deceased person.