In real estate law, an Estate for Life, also known as a life estate, is an interest in real property that lasts for the lifetime of a specified person. The person holding the life estate, called the life tenant, has the right to possess and use the property during their lifetime.
When the life tenant dies, the estate automatically ends and ownership passes back to the grantor or to another designated party, known as the remainderman. A life estate limits the duration of ownership and restricts the life tenant’s ability to transfer full title, since the interest ends upon the measuring life’s death.
