property
reversionary interest
A reversionary interest is a future interest kept by a grantor, or the grantor's heirs, that allows the property to return to them when a lesser estate ends. It arises when an owner conveys a life estate without naming a remainderman, or conveys a defeasible fee with a condition. A landlord also holds a reversionary interest in leased property, since possession returns when the lease ends.
- Exam tip
- Do not confuse reversion with remainder. A reversion goes back to the original grantor; a remainder goes to a named third party (the remainderman).
- Example
- An owner gives her son a life estate in her home and names no one to receive it afterward. When the son dies, the home reverts to the owner or her estate.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23