Dictionary of Law
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lapse :: legal definition


Lapse - 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made in a will. 2) v. to become non-operative. 3) n. the termination of a gift made by will or for future distribution from a trust, caused by the death of the person to whom the gift was intended (the beneficiary, legatee, devisee) prior to the death of the person making the will or creating the trust (the testator, trustor or settlor).

See also: beneficiary devisee legatee trust will and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

accretion :: n. 1) in real estate, the increase of the actual l ... cted event. See also: probate trust
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
advancement :: n. a gift made by a person to one of his or her ch ... tate gift in contemplation of death
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
beach bum trust provision :: n. a requirement in a trust that a beneficiary can ... live off the trust. See also: trust
cestui que trust :: n. (properly pronounced ses-tee kay, but lawyers p ... ust's assets. See also: beneficiary
cestui que use :: (pronounced ses-tee kay use or setty kay use) n. a ... beneficiary cestui que trust trust
charitable remainder trust (Charitable Remainder Irrevocable Unitrust) :: n. a form of trust in which the donor (trustor or ... ed up or committed. See also: trust
claim against an estate :: n. upon the death of a person and beginning of pro ... ade to the heirs. See also: probate
conditional bequest :: n. in a will, a gift which will take place only if ... rries." See also: bequest executory
conservator :: n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge t ... ies. See also: conservatee guardian
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
contemplation of death :: n. the anticipation of death in a relatively short ... e also: unified estate and gift tax
contingent beneficiary :: n. a person or entity named to receive a gift unde ... lso: contingent contingent interest
deed :: 1) n. the written document which transfers title ( ... veyance deed of trust warranty deed
deed of trust :: n. a document which pledges real property to secur ... : foreclosure mortgage reconveyance
devisee :: n. a person who receives a gift of real property b ... will. See also: beneficiary legatee
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
fiduciary relationship :: n. where one person places complete confidence in ... handling. See also: fiduciary trust
generation skipping :: adj., adv. referring to gifts made through trusts ... to a grandchild without a gift tax.
gift in contemplation of death :: n. (called a gift causa mortis by lawyers showing ... ift tax unified estate and gift tax
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy
inter vivos :: (in-tur veye-vohs) adj. Latin for "among the livin ... e will. See also: inter vivos trust
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
legacy :: n. a gift of personal property or money to a benef ... o: beneficiary bequest legatee will
legatee :: n. a person or organization receiving a gift of an ... eficiary devise devisee legacy will
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
living trust :: n. sometimes called an inter vivos (Latin for "wit ... thrift clause trust trustee trustor
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
marital deduction :: n. an estate tax deduction allowed a surviving spo ... community property estate tax trust
Massachusetts Trust :: n. a business in which the investors give manageme ... provide for eventual distribution.
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
per stirpes :: (purr stir-peas) adj. Latin for "by roots," by rep ... descent and distribution trust will
pour over will :: n. a will of a person who has already executed a t ... invalid trust. See also: trust will
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
reformation :: n. the correction or change of an existing documen ... neral partner sues for reformation.
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
spendthrift clause :: n. a provision in a trust or will that states that ... tly to Junior. See also: trust will
spontaneous exclamation :: n. a sudden statement caused by the speaker having ... et hit the girl." See also: hearsay
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
transfer in contemplation of death :: n. giving property under the belief of the giver t ... lso: gift in contemplation of death
trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - L

labor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
landlady :: n. female of landlord or owner of real property fr ... rents or leases. See also: landlord
landlocked :: adj. referring to a parcel of real property which ... which it was created (carved out).
landlord :: n. a person who owns real property and rents or le ... so: lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord's lien :: n. the right of a landlord to sell abandoned perso ... to the ex-tenant and a public sale.
lapse :: 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made i ... eficiary devisee legatee trust will
larceny :: n. the crime of taking the goods of another person ... : grand larceny petty larceny theft
last antecedent rule :: n. a doctrine of interpretation (construction) of ... o trucks and not boats or tractors.
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will
latent defect :: n. a hidden flaw, weakness or imperfection in an a ... warranty product liability warranty
lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
law of admiralty :: n. statutes, customs and treaties dealing with act ... w. See also: Jones Act maritime law
law of the case :: n. once a judge has decided a legal question durin ... he ruling is the "law of the case."