Legal Definitions - life-owner

Definition: A life-owner, also known as a life tenant, is a person who has the right to use and benefit from a property until their death. They hold a life estate, which means they have ownership of the property for the duration of their life.

Examples:

• Equitable life tenant: A spouse who is not automatically entitled to possession of the property but can make an election allowed by law to become a life tenant. They may be granted possession by a court if they provide security or an undertaking.
• Legal life tenant: A life tenant who is automatically entitled to possession of the property by virtue of a legal estate.

For example, if a person inherits a house and becomes a life tenant, they have the right to live in the house and use it as their own until they die. However, they cannot sell the property or make any permanent changes to it without the permission of the remainderman, who will inherit the property after the life tenant's death.