What happens to a life estate when the life tenant passes away?

When a life tenant passes away, the life estate they held does not continue beyond their lifetime. Instead, the property associated with the life estate typically reverts to the grantor or, if specified, to designated heirs. This is a fundamental feature of a life estate, which is granted for the duration of a person's life. Upon the death of the life tenant, the ownership does not transfer to their heirs, nor does the property change into any other form of estate; it simply transitions back to the original owner or to a designated third party as per the terms of the life estate. This mechanism ensures control over the property remains aligned with the intent of the original grantor.