Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam 2025 - Free PACE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The process of abatement is specifically concerned with the distribution of bequests in a will, particularly in situations where the estate lacks sufficient funds to pay all debts and fulfill the bequests specified in the will. When an estate is undergoing probate and it is determined that the total value of the bequests exceeds the assets available, abatement steps in to address how the bequests will be reduced proportionally.

In cases of abatement, the law prescribes a hierarchy for how different types of bequests should be adjusted. Generally, specific bequests may be abated before general bequests, and residuary bequests are last in line. This ensures that debts are cleared and that the division of remaining assets is equitable among beneficiaries. Thus, the focus on how assets are divided when the estate cannot meet all financial commitments reflects the essence of abatement.

The other options relate to distinct legal concepts: negotiating contract terms refers to contractual law; adjusting property basis pertains to tax law; and establishing mental impressions relates to the evidentiary standards in common law. Each of these aspects is separate from what abatement addresses within the context of estate distribution.