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Une donation

English translation: gift (inter vivos)

13:14 May 11, 2020
French to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Finance (general) / Legal term for the general public
French term or phrase: Une donation
The French makes a distinction

"Le legs se distingue de la donation - qui prend effet du vivant du donateur et est irrévocable - car il ne prend effet qu'au décès....

I am translating a novel in which an American decides to donate to his (recently discovered) daughter a property in Provence. He does this via a lawyer, and wants to offer it to her while he is still alive. So it’s not a legacy (which a lawyer friend has confirmed is part of a will. He also rejected ‘bequest’ and suggested 'pro indiviso gift'). The problem with donation is that it sounds like money to a charity, or a painting to a museum. I can get round it with a verb (to gift a property) but my audience might balk at the latin. Is there a more ordinary term out there? ("She was surprised to hear she had received a...."?)
ormiston
Local time: 15:38
English translation:gift (inter vivos)
Explanation:
I think "gift" is all you need in this context. The technical term seems to be "gift inter vivos" (see https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gift-inter-vivos.asp ).
Selected response from:

Marco Solinas
Local time: 06:38
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6gift (inter vivos)
Marco Solinas
4A gift
Rocsana Guignaudeau
3A gift
Bruno Dutra
3 -2propriete
Greatservice00


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
gift (inter vivos)


Explanation:
I think "gift" is all you need in this context. The technical term seems to be "gift inter vivos" (see https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gift-inter-vivos.asp ).

Marco Solinas
Local time: 06:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 87

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Yes, "inter vivos" is not necessary.
1 hr
agree  EirTranslations
1 hr
agree  AllegroTrans: without inter vivos, but perhaps "lifetime gift"
4 hrs
agree  Michael Grabczan-Grabowski: I think "gift" would work well for the story. And as Phil mentioned, don't use inter vivos (it's not a legal document in this case.)
4 hrs
agree  Libby Cohen: Just "gift" -- drop the "inter vivos" as suggested by the others here.
7 hrs
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: Just gift
7 hrs
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20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
A gift


Explanation:
Hello, your audience are made of english native speakers ? I think that GIFT is a good option, that word are not related to latin I think it is related with old norse.

Bruno Dutra
Brazil
Local time: 10:38
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
A gift


Explanation:
There is also the term 'donation'. But 'donation' is used especially between parts not having a parental connection.
Here we have the father who decides to donate a property to his daughter, so we're in the case of a parental connection. Tha's why I consider 'gift' as being more appropiate.

Rocsana Guignaudeau
France
Local time: 15:38
Native speaker of: Native in RomanianRomanian
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -2
Une propriete
propriete


Explanation:
in the case that you would like to avoid confusion. Would it not be more prudent to just say she is receiving a property. It fixes the problem by stating exactly what it is for the reader and you do not have to call it an inheritance since the parent is not dead. The reader will then not make any wrong assumptions and will be able to keep up with the story.

Greatservice00
United States
Local time: 08:38
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  AllegroTrans: No, the term is "gift" and the word you propose isn't English: 'gift' is a fixed legal term in this context. The gift is of a property
2 hrs
  -> Sorry, you are right. I meant to write " property" rather than " proprietee"I understand your point and I agree that there is nothing wrong with writing "gift" you are more versed in translating for courts so let us go with your assessment
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: How does this equate with donation? Or gift?
8 hrs
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