美国财产法(8)

　　赠与（gift）是某人将自愿将其财产转让给另一个人,并不附加任何条件和补偿。（A gift

　　is a present transfer of property by one person to another without

　　any consideration or compensation）

　　要使赠与行为有效,须符合以下三个要素（Three requirements）:第一,必须正式移交或音乐会所赠与的财产；第二,必须是赠与人的主观意愿；每三,必须被接受。

　　There are three requirements for the making of a valid¹ gift:

　　（1） there must be a delivery from the donor² to the donee； （2）

　　the donor must possess an intent to make a present gift； and

　　（3） the donee must accept the gift.

　　赠与可以分为两类:

　　生前赠与（Gifts inter³ vivos）,

　　临终赠与（Gifts causa mortis）

　　所谓生前赠与是指赠与人在其正常生活期间所进行的赠与行为。这种赠与是不可撤销的。而临终赠与是指赠与人在处于生命垂危时所进行的赠与,这种赠与在一定情况是可以改变的。

　　Gifts inter vivos-An inter vivos gift is a gift made during

　　the donor's life when the donor is not under any threat of impeding⁴

　　death. An inter vivos gift, once made is irrevocable

　　Gifts causa mortis- a gift causa mortis is a gift made in contemplation

　　of immediately approaching death. A gift causa mortis is revoked⁵

　　if the donor recovers from the illness that prompted the gift

　　交付是赠与的有效要素之一。交付可以分为以下三类:

　　实际交付（Actual physical Delivery）这个好理解。

　　推定交付Constructive⁶ delivery）- it is handing over the means of

　　obtaining possession such as the keys to a car for example.

　　However when the articles or goods are present and able to then

　　physical delivery must occur.

　　象征性交付（Symbolic⁷ delivery ）- handing over something that is symbolic

　　to the property given such as a writing. Notice that once again

　　if physical delivery can occur it must occur.

　　下面是关于交付的几个例子,请读者仔细阅读:

　　Examples of different types of delivery

　　1. A finds O's mislaid ring. O say to A it's yours. A keeps

　　it. O changes her mind. Who has title O or A？ A has better right

　　to the property because the elements are sought. The delivery

　　aspect is met because A has possession.

　　2. A finds O's mislaid ring. A returns it to O. O looks at it

　　and says to A: "Its your." O takes it to have it downsized

　　for A. O is killed. Who has title, O or A？ O has better title

　　because A did not have possession of it. The transfer of the

　　ring existed before the intent to give was made. A gave the

　　ring back to O so manual transfer was not made.

　　3. A finds O's mislaid ring. A returns it to O. O says I promise

　　to leave it to you when I die. O is killed. Who has title, O

　　or A. Without a will, future intent does not qualify. It has

　　to be present intent to kill

　　4. O gives savings⁸ bank book to B. （Bank permits book holders⁹

　　to withdraw funds）。 O dies before B takes money out. Who has

　　title to the savings account？ B because we have constructive

　　delivery

　　5. O gives B check. O dies before B can cash it. Is check good？

　　Holding- no gift until check paid because donor retains dominion¹⁰

　　and control of funds.

　　6. O gives A written instrument: I give you my wristwatch. O

　　reneges. This is valid gift because symbolic delivery is satisfied.

　　7. O hands A the leash¹¹ to his pit-bull saying "Here take

　　this" O walks away. Has title to the pit bull passed to

　　A.？ It is unclear it "here takes this" was an intent

　　to give, and if A accepted the gift