The legal doctrine that revokes a specific bequest in a will when the testator no longer owns the bequeathed property at death. The beneficiary receives nothing because the specific item no longer exists in the estate.
From Latin 'ademptio' meaning 'a taking away,' from 'adimere' (to take away). The doctrine developed to handle situations where testators disposed of specifically bequeathed property before death.
Ademption is the law's way of saying 'you can't give away what you don't have!' If grandma promises you her diamond ring in her will but sells it before she dies, you get nothing - not even the money from the sale.
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