Which real property estate represents complete ownership that lasts forever and is freely alienable and devisable?

• A. Fee Simple
• B. Fee Simple Determinable
• C. Life Estate
• D. Life Estate Pur Autre Vie

Answer: (A)

The key idea is identifying the form of ownership that is unlimited in duration and free to transfer or pass by will. Fee simple, specifically fee simple absolute, is the most complete form of real property ownership. It lasts forever and has no conditions that could terminate it, and the owner can freely sell, gift, mortgage, lease, or devise it by will without any future-interest limitations.

The other forms impose time limits or contingencies. A fee simple determinable ends automatically if a condition occurs (for example, “so long as” or “until” a condition is met), with a future interest that could revert ownership to the grantor. A life estate lasts only for the life of a person and ends at death, and it cannot be freely devised or alienated in the same unrestricted way because there’s a future interest (remainders or reversion). A life estate pur autre vie is similar but measured by someone else’s life, so it also ends at death and isn’t an indefinite, freely transferable ownership.

So, the option that represents complete ownership lasting forever and freely alienable and devisable is fee simple.