Opinion ID: 886147
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Conditional Gift Theory

Text: ¶ 31 According to Montana law, a gift is a transfer of personal property made voluntarily and without consideration. Section 70-3-101, MCA. The essential elements of an inter vivos gift are donative intent, voluntary delivery and acceptance by the recipient. Marans v. Newland (1962), 141 Mont. 32, 39, 374 P.2d 721, 724 ( citing O'Neil v. First Nat. Bank of Billings (1911), 43 Mont. 505, 511, 117 P. 889, 890). Delivery, which manifests the intent of the giver, must turn over dominion and control of the property to the recipient. In re Brown's Estate (1949), 122 Mont. 451, 459, 206 P.2d 816, 821. Such a gift, made without condition, becomes irrevocable upon acceptance. Marans, 141 Mont. at 36, 374 P.2d at 723; Fender v. Foust (1928), 82 Mont. 73, 78, 265 P. 15, 16; O'Neil v. First Nat. Bank of Billings (1911), 43 Mont. 505, 511, 117 P. 889, 890. When clear and convincing evidence demonstrates the presence of the essential elements of donative intent, voluntary delivery and acceptance, the gift is complete and this Court will not void the transfer when the giver experiences a change of heart. See Gross v. Gross (1989), 239 Mont. 480, 781 P.2d 284 (father barred from revoking a gift of real property transferred to his son). ¶ 32 Another essential element of a gift is that it is given without consideration. Section 70-3-101, MCA. A purported gift that is part of the inducement for an agreement to do or not to do a certain thing, becomes the consideration essential to contract formation. Sections 28-2-101 and 28-2-102, MCA. An exchange of promises creates a contract to marry, albeit an unenforceable one. Section 27-1-412(2), MCA. When an engagement ring is given as consideration for the promise to marry, a contract is formed and legal action to recover the ring is barred by the abolition of the breach of promise actions. Section 27-1-602, MCA. ¶ 33 The only revocable gift recognized by Montana law is a gift in view of death. See §§ 70-3-201, et. seq., MCA. Also known as a gift causa mortis, such a gift is subject to the following conditions: 1) it must be made in contemplation, fear or peril of death; 2) the giver must die of the illness or peril that he or she fears or contemplates; and 3) the delivery must be made with the intent that the gift will only take effect if the giver actually dies. Section 70-3-201, MCA; Nelson v. Wilson (1928), 81 Mont. 560, 570, 264 P. 679, 682; O'Neil, 43 Mont. at 511, 117 P. at 890. Statutory law provides that a gift in view of death may be revoked by the giver at any time and is revoked by the giver's recovery from the illness or escape from the peril under which the gift was made. Section 70-3-203, MCA. ¶ 34 Albinger maintains he held a reversionary interest in the gift of the engagement ring grounded in an implied condition subsequent. Montana law recognizes the transfer of personal property subject to an express or implied condition which must be satisfied before title vests, as either a contract, § 28-1-405, MCA, or as a gift in view of death, §§ 70-3-201, et. seq., MCA. Since actions stemming from breach of the contract to marry are barred by our anti-heart balm statute, Albinger urges the Court to adopt a conditional gift theory patterned on the law relevant to a gift in view of death. Under Montana law, no gift is revocable after acceptance except a gift in view of death. While some may find marriage to be the end of life as one knows it, we are reluctant to analogize gifts in contemplation of marriage with a gift in contemplation of death. This Court declines the invitation to create a new category of gifting by judicial fiat.