Trusts and Estates
The doctrine of lapse and section 33 of the Wills Act 1837
Burns v Bean [2021] EWHC 838 (Ch)
Arabella Adams
In general terms, where a beneficiary of a will dies before the testator and there is no substitute beneficiary named in the
will, the gift shall lapse. An important exception, however, to the doctrine of lapse is contained in s33 of the Wills Act
1837.