Which life estate is measured by the life of a third person?

• A. Life Estate Pur Autre Vie
• B. Life Estate
• C. Life Estate Defeasable
• D. Ouster

Answer: (A)

Life estates can be measured by the life of another person, called pur autre vie. In a pur autre vie, a grant transfers property to someone for the life of a third person (for example, “to A for the life of B”). The estate lasts only as long as B is alive, ending when B dies even if A is still living. After B’s death, the property passes to the designated remainderman or reverts to the grantor. This contrasts with a standard life estate, which is measured by the life of the grantee and ends at the grantee’s death. A life estate defeasable is still a life estate but ends or changes upon a specified condition, not upon the death of a third person. Ouster refers to wrongful exclusion in possession, not to a type of life estate.