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An obsolete form of Freehold interest in land or property, deriving from the days in which property legislation primarily sought to regulate the inheritance of landed estates. A life estate could be granted out of a Fee simple estate, and would allow the life estate holder to enjoy the benefits of the estate while he or she lived. Afterwards, the estate would typically have either further life interests, or a Reversion to the fee simple owner, or an Entail to the heirs of the estate.

Although the life estate is now defunct, it is still possible to have a Life tenancy under a Settled land act settlement.