DEPENDENT RELATIVE REVOCATION
dependent relative revocation.A common-law doctrine that operates to undo an otherwise
sufficient revocation of a will when there is evidence that the testator’s revocation was conditional rather than absolute. • Typically, the doctrine applies when a testator has physically revoked the
will and believes that a new will is valid, although this belief is mistaken. The doctrine undoes
only the revocation; it does not always accomplish the testator’s intent or validate an otherwise
invalid will. — Also termed dependent-relative-revocation doctrine; conditional revocation;
mistakenly induced revocation; ineffective revocation; doctrine of ineffective revocation. [Cases:
Wills 167–195. C.J.S. Wills §§ 386–428, 1621, 2026, 2030, 2036, 2039–2046, 2057–2062.] [Blacks Law 8th]