Definition

Noun: A person who holds a legal right to possess and use a property for the duration of their own life or the life of another specified person. This right, known as a "life estate," ends upon the death of the measuring life, at which point ownership typically passes to another designated party (the "remainderman").

Usage

The term is used in legal and property contexts to describe a specific type of property interest. It denotes a holder of a life estate, not a typical short-term renter. * The will stipulated that her husband would be the life tenant of the family home. * As a life tenant, she is responsible for the property's maintenance and taxes but cannot sell the underlying ownership.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Framework: The rights and responsibilities of a life tenant are defined by property law. They have a duty to not commit "waste," meaning they must not significantly damage the property or deplete its resources.
• Measuring Life: The tenancy can be based on the life of the tenant ("life tenant pur sa vie") or on the life of another person ("life tenant pur autre vie").

Variants and Related Words

• Life Estate (n): The legal interest or right itself that is held by the life tenant.
• Tenant for Life (n): A synonymous legal phrase for life tenant.
• Remainderman (n): The person who is entitled to inherit the property in full after the life tenancy ends.

Synonyms

• Holder of a life estate
• Tenant for life

Related Phrases

• Life interest: Often used interchangeably with "life estate," referring to the beneficial right to use the property.
• Estate for life: Another formal term for the life estate interest.

Noun

1. a tenant whose legal right to retain possession of buildings or lands lasts as long as they (or some other person) live