What is the term for when a specific bequest is no longer part of the estate at the time of death?

The correct term for when a specific bequest is no longer part of the estate at the time of death is ademption. This legal concept arises when a testator bequeaths a specific item to a beneficiary, but by the time of the testator's death, that item has either been sold, given away, or otherwise disposed of, resulting in the bequest effectively disappearing.

Ademption occurs because the specific bequest is tied to particular property or an item. If the property is no longer part of the estate, the beneficiary cannot receive it, and the bequest is said to be "adeemed." This means that the intended gift cannot be fulfilled, and it does not pass on to the beneficiary.

In contrast, the other terms presented have different meanings: abatement refers to the reduction of bequests when the estate does not have enough assets to meet all debts and obligations; revocation involves canceling a will or a specific provision of it, and modification refers to making changes to an existing will. Each of these concepts deals with aspects of estate planning and distribution but does not address the situation specifically related to the absence of a bequest due to its prior loss or disposal, making ademption the appropriate term in this context.