What is the term for the act of giving property by the donor to the donee while the donor is still alive?

The term for the act of giving property by the donor to the donee while the donor is still alive is known as "donation inter vivos." This phrase is derived from Latin, meaning "between the living," which accurately describes the nature of this transfer of ownership. It signifies a gift that is made during the donor's lifetime and is intended to take effect immediately, without any conditions based on future events. In contrast, the other terms involve different contexts: "donation mortis causa" refers to a transfer that takes effect upon the death of the donor, "donation causa mortis" also pertains to a gift made in contemplation of imminent death, and the establishment of a trust involves creating a legal entity to hold property for the benefit of another, which is not directly related to the immediate gift aspect covered by donation inter vivos. Therefore, the correct understanding of the terminology underscores the distinction between living transfers versus those conditioned on death or other future events.