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Glite Dictionary
inter vivos trust

inter vivos trust

9.2
A trust made while the owner is alive to manage money or property for other people
  • noun
  • /ˌɪntər ˈvaɪvoʊs trʌst/
  • Formal
translation icon : fideicomiso inter vivos
  • Most people create supplemental needs trusts as a separate inter vivos trust so that other family members (or interested parties) can make use of the trust in their own estate plans.

Examples

  • An inter vivos trust allows the grantor to manage their assets while they are still alive.

  • Many individuals prefer to establish an inter vivos trust to avoid probate after death.

  • Creating an inter vivos trust can provide financial privacy and control over asset distribution.

Synonyms

trust
vsinter vivos trust
  • Specialized
275 6.8

An arrangement where one person holds property for another person's benefit

is limited to arrangements created and operating during the grantor's lifetime
living trust
vsinter vivos trust
  • Specialized
3 6.0

A legal plan that lets you keep control of your money and property while alive and avoid court after death

is created and operates during the grantor's lifetime not established by a will

Surface Forms

inter vivos trust singular
inter vivos trusts plural

Morphology

inter + vivos + trust

This is a Latin legal term: the constituents 'inter' and 'vivos' are not common English words, so a B1 learner who only knows the English word 'trust' would not be able to infer the meaning 'created during the grantor's lifetime'. The Latin phrase functions as specialized legalese (used intact across many languages), making the overall meaning unpredictable and not transparently derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Inter vivos trust uses the Latin phrase inter vivos, which means 'between the living', and the word trust for a way to hold property while someone is alive. That's why it describes a trust made 'during life' and not 'by will'.