Can a will prohibit the application of anti-lapse rules?

The correct answer indicates that a will can indeed prevent the application of anti-lapse rules if the gift is conditional upon the beneficiary's survival. Anti-lapse statutes are designed to prevent a gift from failing if a beneficiary predeceases the testator; instead, the property typically passes to the beneficiary's descendants. However, if the testator specifies that a gift is contingent on a beneficiary surviving them, this creates an explicit condition that overrides the default application of anti-lapse rules. In such cases, if the beneficiary does not survive the testator, the gift will not take effect, and the property will not pass to the beneficiary's heirs.

This distinguishes the correct answer from the other options. For instance, asserting that anti-lapse rules are always applicable ignores the ability of the testator to create conditions that would prevent their application. Saying that the rules can only be overridden if alternate beneficiaries are specified does not capture the essence of conditionality—it's the condition of survival itself that is key, not merely the presence of alternate beneficiaries. Lastly, suggesting that a will can prohibit these rules when explicitly stated applies in a broader sense than necessary; while clarity in the testator's intention is important, the specific condition of survival serves as a more direct