Life Estate is defined as an interest in property limited in duration to the lifetime of its owner or some designated person, ending at death.

• A. An interest that lasts for 99 years
• B. An interest that ends at death
• C. An interest that can be renewed annually
• D. An interest limited to the lifetime of the owner or a designated person

Answer: (D)

Life estate is an interest in property whose duration is tied to a specific person’s life. It lasts only for the lifetime of the owner or another designated person, and it ends when that person dies. The key idea is the measuring life—the rights exist for the duration of that person’s life, not for a fixed number of years or as a renewable tenancy. The description stating it is limited to the lifetime of the owner or a designated person captures this measuring-life concept exactly, which is why it’s the best choice. A fixed 99-year term describes a term of years, not a life estate. A description implying annual renewal points to a periodic tenancy, not a life estate. Saying it ends at death is true but incomplete without specifying whose life is being measured.