What is a life estate pur autre vie?

A life estate pur autre vie is a type of life estate that is specifically measured by the life of another person, rather than the life of the person who is granted the estate. In this arrangement, the property is owned by one individual but the duration of that ownership is tied to the lifespan of a different individual. Therefore, the life tenant can occupy and use the property until the designated individual passes away, at which point the rights to the property revert back to the original grantor or a third party designated in the agreement.

Understanding this distinction is crucial in real estate as it defines the rights and limitations of the current holder of the estate and clarifies the nature of ownership in relation to time and life. The other options describe different forms of estates, but they do not accurately capture the unique aspect of a life estate pur autre vie, which specifically hinges on the life of someone other than the grantee.