Donations mortis causa were a type of donation made by the donor during their lifetime, but which only took effect upon their death. This type of donation has since been abolished.
Today, a would-be donor can achieve a similar effect in two ways. First, they may simply leave the property to a specific person as a legacy in a will. Alternatively, the donor may transfer the property during his lifetime by a deed of donation while reserving in his favour the right of use and usufruct for life. In that case, full ownership of the property vests in the donee only upon the death of the donor-usufructuary.
Ethan Brincat 