Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1871-1896
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MORTIS CAUSA, adv.phr. Sc. legal usage, of a deed, bequest etc.: not operative till after death, taking effect on the death of the grantor (Sc. 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 57). [′kǫ:zə]Sc. 1871 Erskine Institute iii. ii. § 21 note (a):
Doubts having been entertained as to whether wills and mortis causa settlements were subject to stamp-duty, it was enacted . . . "that no will, testament, testamentary instrument, or disposition mortis causa, shall be chargeable with any stamp-duty."Sc. 1896 W. K. Morton Manual Law Scot. 304:
Donatio mortis causa. This, again, is not an obligation. As formerly understood, it was a gift de presenti, made by the granter in the expectation of death.
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"Mortis Causa adv. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/mortis_causa>
