[Latin, Between the living.] A phrase used to describe a gift that is made during the donor's lifetime.
In order for an inter vivos gift to be complete, there must be a clear manifestation of the giver's intent to release to the donee the object of the gift, and actual delivery and acceptance by the donee.An inter vivos gift is distinguishable from a gift causa mortis, which is made in expectation of impending death.
(in-tur-veye-vohs) adj. Latin for "among the living," usually referring to the transfer of property by agreement between living persons and not by a gift through a will. It can also refer to a trust (inter vivos trust) which commences during the lifetime of the person (trustor or settlor) creating the trust as distinguished from a trust created by a will (testamentary trust) which comes into existence upon the death of the writer of the will. (See: inter vivos trust)
INTER VIVOS. Between living persons; as, a gift inter vivos, which is a gift made by one living person to another; see Gifts inter vivos. It is a rule that a fee cannot pass by grant or transfer, inter vivos, without appropriate words of inheritance. 2 Prest. on Est. 64.