Inter vivos

/ˈɪntər ˈvaɪvoʊs/ adjective

Definition

Referring to legal transactions or transfers that occur between living persons, as opposed to those that take effect upon death. Commonly used to describe trusts or gifts made during the donor's lifetime.

Etymology

Directly from Latin meaning 'between the living.' Roman law distinguished between acts performed during life versus those taking effect at death (mortis causa), and this distinction remains fundamental in modern estate planning.

Kelly Says

Inter vivos is lawyer Latin for 'while you're still breathing!' It's the legal world's way of distinguishing between what you do with your stuff while alive versus what happens to it when you're dead - a crucial difference for taxes and legal challenges.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.