INDEPENDENT-SIGNIFICANCE DOCTRINE

independent-significance doctrine.Wills & estates. The principle that effect will be given to a testator’s disposition that is not done solely to avoid the requirements of a will. • An example is a will provision that gives the contents of the testator’s safe-deposit box to his niece. Because the safe-deposit box has utility (“significance”) independent of the will, the gift of its contents at the testator’s death is valid.

[Blacks Law 8th]