What characterizes a "pur autre vie" life estate?

A "pur autre vie" life estate is characterized by ownership that lasts for the lifetime of a designated person, rather than the owner themselves. In this arrangement, the life estate holder possesses the property for the duration of another individual's life, and upon that person's death, the property reverts back to the remainderman, who holds the future interest. This distinguishes it from other types of ownership interests, where the rights might be tied to the lifetime of the holder instead of another designated individual.

In this scenario, full ownership without any restrictions and the ability to transfer ownership to heirs don't apply because a "pur autre vie" life estate is not a full estate and comes with limitations on how the interest can be used or passed on. Moreover, a temporary lease agreement is distinct from a life estate, as it does not involve the same principles of ownership and life duration associated with property rights. Therefore, the defining feature of a "pur autre vie" life estate is the duration of ownership linked to another person's life.