We tend to use to if someone is left something in a will or after somebody dies So for example, George left his piano to his niece when he died. You can say it was left for someone but this implies that the person receiving it is maybe not in a position to take possession of the item immediately so in your example, he left the house for his 3 children, this suggests there is some reason why the children cannot take possession of the house, maybe the children are too young and the house will be held in trust for them until they are adults. He left the house to his 3 children- the children get possession immediately In both cases the giver has most likely died but this is not absolutely certain, they may have moved away permanently for example unless a will is specifically mentioned I hope this is cleat