Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A freehold estate is a type of ownership that lasts forever. Some freehold estates can be passed down to family members after the owner dies, while others only last for the owner's lifetime. This is different from a nonfreehold estate, which has a set end date.
Freehold Estate
A freehold estate is a type of property ownership that lasts forever. This means that the owner has the right to use and enjoy the property for as long as they live. There are two types of freehold estates:
Freehold estates are different from nonfreehold estates, which are temporary and do not give the owner full ownership rights.
Example 1: John owns a house in fee simple absolute. This means that he can live in the house for as long as he wants, and when he dies, the house will go to his children.
Example 2: Mary owns a life estate in a farm. She can live on the farm for the rest of her life, but when she dies, the farm will go to her nephew.
These examples illustrate the definition of freehold estate because they show how the ownership of the property lasts forever. In the first example, John's ownership of the house will pass down to his children after he dies. In the second example, Mary's ownership of the farm will end when she dies, but it will pass down to her nephew. Both examples show how freehold estates can be passed down to heirs after the owner dies.