A sacrificial substrate for fabricating semiconductor device assemblies and packages with edge contacts includes conductive elements on a surface thereof, which are located so as to align along a street between each adjacent pair of semiconductor devices on the device substrate. A semiconductor device assembly or package includes a semiconductor device, a redistribution layer over an active surface of the semiconductor device, and dielectric material coating at least portions of an outer periphery of the semiconductor device. Peripheral sections of contacts are located on the peripheral edge and electrically isolated therefrom by the dielectric coating. The contacts may also include upper sections that extend partially over the active surface of the semiconductor device. The assembly or package may include any type of semiconductor device, including a processor, a memory device, and emitter, or an optically sensitive device.