gift in contemplation of death
IN LAW, VOLUNTARY TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM ONE PERSON (THE DONOR OR GRANTOR) TO ANOTHER (THE DONEE OR GRANTEE)
Gift causa mortis; Gift inter vivos; Donatio mortis causa; Gift inter Vivos; Donative intent; Transfer in contemplation of death; Gift in contemplation of death; Donationes mortis causae; Donation Mortis Causa; Contemplation of death; Gift law; Donatio Mortis Causa; Causa mortis
n. (called a gift causa mortis by lawyers showing off their Latin), a gift of personal property (not real estate) by a person expecting to die soon due to ill health or age. Federal tax law will recognize this reason for a gift if the giver dies within three years of the gift. Treating the gift as made in contemplation of death has the benefit of including the gift in the value of the estate, rather than making the gift subject to a separate federal gift tax charged the giver. If the giver gets over an apparently mortal illness, the gift is treated like any other gift for tax purposes.
See also: gift tax unified estate and gift tax