is it possible to get an inheritance or part of an inheritance even if nobody died?

Question

I know someone who inherited real estate properties even though nobody in her family died. Is this possible?
I thought you inherit things when somebody in your family dies.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Truth is what ever you receive from a living person is a gift, not an inheritance. The IRS knows the difference.

Answer 2

By definition an inheritance is something received as a result of a death. Property received before death is a gift. The person you are describing may have received an inheritance of someone who died a long time ago and the estate was settled only recently. The inheritance may have been put into a trust to be distributed when the heir reaches a certain age. There are other possibilities, but if it was truly an inheritance, it occurs after death of the donor.

Answer 3

Any thing any one gives you free during his life is a gift.

But if a grand father, say, intends to leave you something to inherit from him, you may persuade him to give it to you before he dies. You could then say, loosely, that he gave you your inheritance early. It is not correct language, but it is near enough.

Answer 4

Yeah, it's called a check from your parents.

Sometimes parents, grandparents, set up a trust for their children. The trust has rules for money disbursement that are set up at the start. Usually, the child doesn't get any money until a certain age, or for educational expenses. The rules are up to the people who are setting up the trust.