In a pur autre vie life estate, who is the determining factor for ownership?

In a pur autre vie life estate, the determining factor for ownership is indeed the remainderman who is named at the creation of the life estate. This type of life estate is established for the life of another person, meaning that the ownership interest of the life tenant is dependent on the life of someone other than themselves. The remainderman is the individual who will receive the property after the life tenant’s interest ends, which typically occurs upon the death of the person whose life dictates the term of the estate.

The life tenant has rights to the property during their lifetime, but they do not have the final say regarding who inherits the property once their interest expires. This decision lies with the original grantor, who designates the remainderman at the time of the life estate's creation. This structure allows for clear planning and transfer of ownership upon the end of the life estate, adhering to the wishes of the original grantor. Other options, such as the life tenant or future tenants, do not hold authority in terms of defining the next ownership upon the life tenant's passing.