Which type of estate requires a specific person’s life for its duration?

A life estate is a type of property interest that lasts for the duration of a specific person’s life. This interest is granted to an individual, known as the life tenant, and it allows them to use and enjoy the property during their lifetime. Upon the death of the life tenant, the property interest automatically reverts to the grantor or passes to a predetermined person, known as the remainderman.

The essential characteristic of a life estate is its reliance on the duration of an individual’s life, meaning the rights to the property are contingent on that person's lifespan. This makes it distinct from other types of estates, as the life tenant cannot freely transfer the property to others in a way that would extend beyond their lifetime.

In contrast, a leasehold estate pertains to a tenant's right to occupy and use real property for a specified period under a lease agreement, without any connection to a person's life. A qualified fee estate refers to an ownership interest that may be voided upon the occurrence of a specific event rather than contingent on an individual's life. Lastly, a remainder estate is simply the interest that becomes effective after the life estate ends, which is held by the remainderman but does not define the duration based on a person's life.