What happens to a life estate when the life tenant dies?
Correct Answer
D) It reverts to the grantor or passes to the remainderman
Upon the death of the life tenant, the life estate terminates automatically and the property either reverts to the original grantor (reversion) or passes to a predetermined third party (remainderman), depending on how the life estate was originally created.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option D correctly identifies that life estates terminate automatically upon the life tenant's death, with property either reverting to the original grantor (reversion) or passing to a predetermined third party (remainderman). This reflects the fundamental nature of life estates under Canadian property law, where the life tenant holds only a limited interest that cannot extend beyond their lifetime. The property's future disposition was determined when the life estate was originally created, not through the life tenant's will or estate planning.
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