Who is typically considered the "legatee" in legal terms?

The term "legatee" specifically refers to a person or entity who is entitled to receive a bequest under a will. In the context of estate planning and probate law, bequests are gifts of personal property that are designated to be given to the legatee upon the death of the person who created the will. This makes them a central figure in the distribution of an estate, as they have a legal right to receive the specified assets or property verbally or in writing as outlined by the deceased's wishes.

Considering the other options, the owner of real estate is not inherently linked to being a legatee unless they are specifically named in a will. A court-appointed trustee is someone who manages assets on behalf of others and does not directly inherit property unless designated in a will. Finally, a lender in a mortgage agreement primarily engages in financial transactions and does not pertain to the process of inheritances or bequests.