property

life estate

A freehold estate that lasts only for the lifetime of a named person. The life tenant may use the property, collect rents, and sell or lease their interest, but cannot commit waste that harms the future owner. When the measuring life ends, the property passes to a remainderman or reverts to the original grantor. If the measuring life is someone other than the holder, it is a life estate pur autre vie.

Exam tip: Know who holds the future interest: a remainderman if named by the grantor, or the grantor (reversionary interest) if no one else is named. A life tenant cannot leave the property by will beyond their own life.
Example: Ana deeds her house to her brother for his life, then to her niece. The brother is the life tenant and the niece is the remainderman.

1. In a life estate, the person who receives the property when the life tenant dies is the:

Answer & explanation

Answer: A. The life tenant has a present interest; the remainderman holds a future interest. If the property returns to the grantor, it is a reversion.

Related terms & state variants

freehold estate life estate pur autre vie remainderman reversionary interest

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23