Mortis causa

“Mortis causa” is a Latin term that means “cause of death” or “by reason of death.” It is commonly used in legal and estate planning contexts, especially in relation to wills and inheritance. When someone leaves assets or property to another person in their will, they may do so “mortis causa,” which means that the transfer of ownership or rights to those assets only happens upon the testator’s death.

In this context, “mortis causa” indicates that the transfer of assets or property is dependent on the testator’s passing. It is the opposite of other types of transfers, such as inter vivos transfers, where ownership or rights are transferred while the individual is still alive. Wills are legal documents typically associated with mortis causa transfers, as they specify how the deceased’s assets should be distributed after their death.