ABSTRACT
This chapter commences with a discussion on the legal regulation in Denmark, Sweden and Norway of donations and other gifts, and the ideology behind it. It looks at the regulation of donations in the Nordic realms, a division between the southwest is seen, on the one hand, and the north and east, on the other hand. In parts of eastern Sweden a third principle was found: here, only a fixed maximum sum could be disposed without the heirs' consent. Scandinavian legislation is discussed to show the legal interaction between the Scandinavian regions. The chapter also deals with legal practice, concerning wills as well as donations made inter vivos. The main focus is on Denmark, but Norwegian material is included – especially with regard to wills, where people find some interesting differences between the two countries with respect to the introduction of memorial masses for the souls of family members.
