What is the legal term for the extinction or withdrawal of a legacy?

The legal term for the extinction or withdrawal of a legacy is ademption. This concept arises in the context of wills and estates, where a testator may leave a specific gift (legacy) to a beneficiary. If the item specified in the legacy no longer exists at the time of the testator's death, or if it has been altered or replaced in a way that the intended gift cannot be fulfilled, the legacy is considered to have been adeemed. In such cases, the beneficiary would not receive the specific item initially intended, as it no longer forms part of the estate to be distributed.

This concept emphasizes the importance of the specific bequests in a will and reflects how changes to the testator's assets can directly impact the beneficiaries' entitlements. Understanding ademption is vital for those working in estate planning and administration to ensure that wills are interpreted and executed according to the testator's intentions.