Wills, Trusts, and Estates

Lapse

A devise lapses if the if the devisee dies before the testator.

At common law, a devise is implied to be conditional upon the devisee's surviving the testator unless specified otherwise.

Know the chart on page 373, which details the process to go through when a gift lapses to find who to distribute it to:

• A gift lapses.
• Does the antilapse statute apply?
  • If so, distribute it to the devisee's descendants instead.
  • Else, is the gift a class gift?
    • If so, reallocate it among the other class members.
    • Else, is the gift specific or general? (i.e., not residual)
      • If so, it is then added to the residue.
      • Else, does the state follow the no-residue-of-a-residue rule?
        • If so, distribute it to the decedent's heirs by intestacy.
        • Else, distribute it to other residuary devisees if available.
          • Else, distribute it to the decedent's heirs by intestacy.