diff --git a/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/BaseRepeatedValueVector.java b/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/BaseRepeatedValueVector.java
index 7906d90c2fff0..7c4015299a6cd 100644
--- a/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/BaseRepeatedValueVector.java
+++ b/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/BaseRepeatedValueVector.java
@@ -355,16 +355,8 @@ public int getInnerValueCountAt(int index) {
             offsetBuffer.getInt(index * OFFSET_WIDTH);
   }
 
-  /** Return if value at index is null (this implementation is always false). */
-  @Override
-  public boolean isNull(int index) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  /** Return if value at index is empty (this implementation is always false). */
-  public boolean isEmpty(int index) {
-    return false;
-  }
+  /** Return if value at index is empty. */
+  public abstract boolean isEmpty(int index);
 
   /** Starts a new repeated value. */
   public int startNewValue(int index) {