The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LEGATEES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
E
G
A
T
E
E
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "They stand to gain property" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case they stand to gain property = legatees.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LEGATEES mean?
LEGATEES noun- One who receives a legacy.