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title: What is a Beneficiary?
description: what is a beneficiary
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January 13, 2025

# What is a Beneficiary?

## It is important to understand some of the terms involved with laying out one's wishes clearly so that others (surviving family members and sometimes courts) have a complete understanding of your intentions. One of the key terms to understand is "Beneficiary."

The American Bar Association describes a Beneficiary as: 

"A person who will receive the benefit of property from an estate...through the right to receive a bequest..." ¹

When it comes to your physical personal property or digital files and assets, we like to think of a beneficiary as the person you want to give your stuff to. (Note: A beneficiary doesn't need to be a person. It could be an organization or other legally recognized entity.)

Source:

¹ https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real\_property\_trust\_estate/resources/estate-planning/glossary/

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