What is typically required for a life estate to terminate?

A life estate is a type of property interest that lasts for the duration of a person’s life, known as the life tenant. The key characteristic of a life estate is that it grants the life tenant the right to use and benefit from the property during their lifetime, after which the property must revert to the original owners or pass to a designated remainder beneficiary.

The termination of a life estate occurs specifically upon the death of the life tenant. Once the life tenant passes away, their rights to the property are extinguished, and the estate reverts to the remainderman or the original owner, depending on how the life estate was structured. This distinctive feature of life estates highlights the principle that the duration of a life estate is intrinsically linked to the lifespan of the life tenant.

The other options do not correctly reflect the nature of life estates. A sale of the property would not inherently terminate a life estate unless it is sold and the conditions specifically state otherwise. Similarly, a change in ownership or legal action does not terminate the life estate; rather, the life estate continues until the life tenant passes away. Therefore, the most accurate answer concerning when a life estate terminates is upon the death of the life tenant.