Legal Definitions - perpetual freehold

A perpetual freehold is a type of estate given to a grantee for life, and then successively to the grantee's heirs for life. The effect of this type of freehold was to keep land within a family in perpetuity, much like a fee tail.

For example, a landowner may grant an estate to A for life, then to A's son for life, and then to that son's son for life, and so on ad infinitum. Such a limitation, if valid, would have been an effective substitute for the fee tail.

However, the courts set their face against this 'perpetual freehold' and found reasons for invalidating it. Ultimately, the rule against perpetuities was established, which limits the duration of future interests in property.