Ademption occurs when a special gift of property intended for a beneficiary at a person's death can't be made. A gift may fail or "adeem" because the property was given to the beneficiary during the deceased's lifetime or because the property that was to be given as a special gift has been sold, lost, or otherwise disposed of by the owner and is not part of the estate at the time of his/her death.
Ademption may apply to a sum of money or an item of personal property or real property.