Disclaiming a Gift
Sometimes a beneficiary does not wish to receive a gift from a deceased person’s estate. This may be because it will impact his or her entitlement to receive a pension, or it may simply not be required.
A beneficiary cannot be forced to receive a gift, and the act of refusing to accept the gift is called disclaiming the gift.
A disclaimer of a gift must be unequivocal and for the whole of the gift. A beneficiary cannot disclaim part of a gift.
It is best to record the refusal of the gift in a formal document which is sometimes called a Deed of Disclaimer.
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