Legal Definitions - lapsed devise

A lapsed devise is a gift of property made in a will that fails because the person who was supposed to receive it has died before the person who made the will. This means that the property will not go to anyone and will instead become part of the deceased person's estate.

For example, if a person makes a will leaving their house to their sister, but the sister dies before the person making the will, the gift of the house will lapse and the house will become part of the person's estate.

Lapsed devises can also be called failed devises or failed gifts.