This term is often used in cases where a person has died before their spouse.
A person who dies before their or who does not live long enough to see another person pass away is referred to as a predecessor spouse. When a person who was meant to be a beneficiary in a will dies before the testator, it has a substantial impact on estate and trust law. To avoid a bequest from a lapse in this situation, most jurisdictions have developed anti-lapse statutes.
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