Legal Term: GIFT

Definition: contracts. The act by which the owner of a thing, voluntarily transfers the title and possession of the same, from himself to another person who accepts it, without any consideration. It differs from a grant, sale, or barter in this, that in each of these cases there must be a consideration, and a gift, as the definitionstates, must be without consideration. 2. The manner of making the gift may be in writing, or verbally, and, as far as personal chattels are concerned, they are equally binding. Perk. 57, 2 Bl. Com. 441. But real estate must be transferred by deed. 3. There must be a transfer made with an intention of passing the title, and delivering the possession of the thing given, and it must be accepted by the donee. 1 Madd. Ch. R. 176, Am. ed. p. 104, sed vide 2 Barn. & Ald. 551, Noys Rep. 67. 4. The transfer must be without consideration, for if there be the least consideration, it will change the contract into a sale or barter, if possession be delivered, or if not, into an executory contract. 2 Bl. Com. 440. 5. Gifts are divided into gifts inter vivos, and gifts causa mortis, and also into simple or proper gifts, that is, such as are to take immediate effect, without any condition, and qualified or improper gifts, or such as derive their force upon the happening, of some condition or contingency, as, for example, a donatio causa mortis. Vide Donatio causa mortis, Gifts inter vivos, and Vin. Ab. h. t., Com. Dig. Biens, D 2, and Grant, Bac. Ab. Grant, 14 Vin. Ab. 19 3 M. & S. 7 5 Taunt. 212 1 Miles, R. 109.

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