At the most basic level, the difference between a gift inter vivos and a gift causa mortis is apparent from the latin phrases' meanings:
A gift inter vivos is a gift made during the donor's life. And a gift causa mortis is a gift made (presumably) near the end of the donor's life while the donor anticipates/fears his or her own imminent death.
To be a valid gift, the two types have different requirements.
A valid gift inter vivos requires:
Importantly, once all three requirements are met, a valid gift inter vivos cannot be revoked by the donor.
A valid gift causa mortis requires:
If the donor recovers, the gift is automatically revoked. Similarly, if the donee dies before the donor, the gift is revoked. And, unlike a gift inter vivos, the donor may always revoke the gift before she dies, even after the first four requirements above have been satisfied. Also distinguishing gifts causa mortis is the fact that they must be gifts of personal property; real property (interests in land, etc.) cannot be conveyed by gifts causa mortis.
State law will vary in some of the nuances, but this is a general sketch of the two types of gifts. The key difference, and the reason for keeping such an antiquated distinction, lies in the gifts' revocability. If the donor is certain that he or she wants to make the gift, an inter vivos gift provides the easier and more foolproof means. On the other hand, when one is in a gravely stressful situation, she may wish to make a gift of property she would otherwise want to keep. A gift causa mortis honors the dying donor's wishes, while also protecting the donor from regretting the gift should she change her mind or recover.
Rigor mortis begins between three and four hours after someone has died. It usually begins in the neck, jaw, and eyelids.
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Imago Mortis was created in 2009.
Spiritus Mortis was created in 1987.
Luna Mortis was created in 2001.
Luna Mortis ended in 2010.
Saltatio Mortis was created in 2000.
Metus Mortis was created in 2001.
Hibernus Mortis was created in 1995.
He who is 'in articulo mortis' is someone on the point of death.
"Eater" can be expressed as vorator (genitive voratoris), literally "devourer". "Death" is mors, genitive mortis, so the proper translation is Mortis Vorator or Vorator Mortis. The plural is Voratores Mortis.
Bangor University's motto is 'Mortis felix et dominus'.