Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam

Which type of life estate is based on another person's life?

1. Conventional Life Estate

2. Life Estate

3. Pur Autre Vie

4. Remainder interest

The correct answer is: Pur Autre Vie

The correct answer is based on the concept of a life estate that is specifically tied to the lifespan of another individual. This type of life estate is termed "Pur Autre Vie," which translates to "for the life of another." In this arrangement, the life tenant holds the rights to use and benefit from the property as long as a specified third party, whose life the estate is connected to, is alive. Once that individual passes away, the life estate terminates, and the property will then revert to a pre-determined remainderman or revert back to the original grantor. Understanding this concept is essential because it highlights a particular scenario in property law where the rights of ownership are intricately linked to the existence of another person rather than the life tenant themselves. In contrast, a conventional life estate is based on the life of the individual who holds the estate, and a remainder interest refers to the future interest that takes effect after the termination of a life estate. The general term "life estate" is broader and does not specify the conditions under which it operates. Thus, Pur Autre Vie is the correct choice when defining a life estate contingent upon the life of another person.