Legal Definitions - natural life

Natural life refers to the entire duration of a person's physical existence, from the moment of their birth until their death, without any predetermined end date or artificial limitation. It signifies the full span of an individual's biological life.

Here are some examples of how "natural life" applies in a legal context:

• Criminal Sentencing: When a court sentences a defendant to "life imprisonment without the possibility of parole," it means the individual will remain incarcerated for the remainder of their physical existence. For instance, if a person is convicted of a serious felony and receives such a sentence, they will serve time in prison until they die, regardless of how many years that may be. This sentence is directly tied to their natural life span.

• Estate Planning and Trusts: A will or trust might stipulate that a beneficiary receives income or benefits "for the duration of their natural life." For example, a grandparent might set up a trust fund that provides a monthly allowance to their grandchild. The trust document specifies that these payments will continue every month, starting from a certain age, and will only cease upon the grandchild's death. The payments are not for a fixed number of years but for as long as the grandchild is physically alive.

• Insurance and Annuities: Certain financial products, like a lifetime annuity, guarantee payments "for the natural life" of the policyholder. If an individual purchases such an annuity, they will receive regular payments (e.g., monthly or annually) for as long as they live, no matter how long that period turns out to be. The insurance company commits to making these payments until the policyholder's death, covering their entire remaining natural life.