Section 161: When removal of thing bequeathed does not constitute ademption

The removal of the thing bequeathed from the place in which it is stated in the will to be situated does not constitute an ademption, where the place is only referred to in order to complete the description of what the testator meant to bequeath. Illustrations (i) A bequeaths to B “all the bills, bonds and other securities for money belonging to me now lying in my lodgings in [Karachi]”. At the time of his death these effects had been removed from his lodgings in [Karachi]. (ii) A bequeaths to B all his furniture then in his house in [Karachi]. The testator has a house at [Karachi] and another at [Quetta], in which he lives alternately, being possessed of one set of furniture only which he removes with himself to each house. At the time of his death the furniture is in the house at [Quetta]. (iii) A bequeaths to B all his goods on board a certain ship then lying in the river [Indus]. The goods are removed by A’s directions to a warehouse, in which they remain at the time of A’s death. No one of these legacies is revoked by ademption.

Related sections