What type of estate is measured in the life of someone other than the grantee?

A Life Estate per Autre Vie is specifically an interest in real property that is measured by the life of someone other than the grantee. In this arrangement, the life tenant has rights to use and benefit from the property during the lifetime of another specified person, known as the measuring life. Once that person passes away, the life estate terminates, and the property typically reverts to the original owner or passes to another specified party.

This concept is significant as it allows the life tenant to enjoy the property while ensuring that the rights and benefits are linked to an individual other than themselves, which may be relevant in various estate planning scenarios. For instance, this type of arrangement is often utilized when a parent leaves property for the use of a child for as long as the child’s grandparent is alive.

In contrast, a standard Life Estate is measured by the life of the grantee, meaning the property interest lasts only for the duration of the life tenant's own life. Fee Simple Absolute represents the most complete ownership of property, with no restrictions on the length of ownership, whereas a Conditional Estate involves ownership that is contingent upon a specific condition being met or maintained. These distinctions are crucial to understanding different types of property interests in real estate.