ademption of legacies

ademption of legacies

in the law of succession, a special legacy that specifies that the gift (e.g. ‘my treasured dictionary’) will be cancelled or reduced (adeemed) if the object is no longer part of the estate at the date of death, as where the testator has sold the dictionary to a book collector. A specific legacy of £1,000 sterling may be reduced if, before the testator's death, he has given the legatee a portion of the money. Furthermore, if a specific legacy changes its nature, the legacy will adeem, as the description of the legacy will no longer match the object.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006