Lapsed Legacy
Defined in 4 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Bouvier (1839)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A legacy which, on account of the death of the legatee before the period arrives for the payment of the legacy, lapses or deviates from the course prescribed by the testator, and falls into the residuum. 1 Williams, Ex'rs, 1036. A distinction exists between a lapsed devise and a lapsed legacy. A legacy which lapses does not fall into the residue unless so provided by the will, but descends to the heir at law; on the contrary, personal property passes by the residuary clause where it is not otherwise disposed of. 2 Bouv. Inst. 2154-2156. See "Lapsed Devise."
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Where the legatee dies bsfore the testator, or before the legacy is payable, the bequest is said to lapse, as it then falls into the residuary fund of the estate.
Defined under Legacy in Black's Law Dictionary.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
See Le- but a mere trespass; if that same apgacy, Lapsed. / ple, however, had beenseparated from