Inter vivos is a Latin phrase which means “while alive” or “between the living.” This phrase is primarily used in property law and refers to various legal actions taken by a given person while still alive, such as giving gifts, creating trusts, or conveying property.
Some examples of inter vivos actions and items in property law include:
- An inter vivos transfer is a property transfer that is made during a transferor’s lifetime.
- Living trusts are trusts created during the lifetime of a settlor and are revocable before that settlor’s death (see: revocable living trusts). This is also known as an inter vivos trust.
[Last updated in June of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]