What can be said of a life estate once the life tenant passes away?

A life estate is a type of property ownership that is limited to the duration of an individual's life, known as the life tenant. Once the life tenant passes away, the life estate terminates. Following this termination, the property does not go to the life tenant's heirs; rather, it typically reverts back to the grantor or their designated heirs, depending on the terms established in the original ownership agreement. This principle is rooted in the nature of life estates, which are inherently tied to the life of the individual.

In many cases, the reversion is automatic unless other arrangements, such as a remainder interest, are specified when the life estate is created. Therefore, the critical aspect is understanding that the life estate's existence is contingent upon the life tenant's life, and upon their death, it ceases to exist, leading to a reversion of rights as outlined.