A residuary estate, in the law of wills, is any portion of the testator 's estate that is not specifically devised to someone in the will, or any property that is part of such a specific devise that fails. [1] It is also known as a residual estate or simply residue.

A residuary estate, most commonly referred to as the residue, is the portion of your estate left over after your executor takes care of your lingering debts, taxes, and expenses, and distributes the bequests outlined in your will. An example of these types of gifts could be a cash gift or a car.