In a life estate, the life tenant is entitled to possession and to the income from the property for the duration of their life; the interest terminates upon what event?

• A. On the death of the life tenant
• B. On the sale of the property
• C. At the end of a fixed term
• D. On the death of the life tenant or the other person whose life the life estate depends on

Answer: (D)

A life estate is an ownership interest measured by the life of a person, giving the life tenant possession and income only for that person's life. It ends when the measuring life ends. If the estate is based on the life tenant’s own life, it terminates at the life tenant’s death; if it’s based on someone else’s life (a life estate pur autre vie), it terminates at that other person’s death. Therefore, termination occurs at the death of the life tenant or the death of the other person whose life the estate depends on.