In the grant 'to A for life, then to B,' what is B's interest?

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Multiple Choice

In the grant 'to A for life, then to B,' what is B's interest?

This illustrates how a grant that uses “for life, then to” creates a life estate followed by a future interest in another person. Here, A holds a life estate, and when A dies, B becomes the owner. Because B is named and there’s no condition precedent other than the natural end of A’s life, B’s interest is a vested remainder in fee simple. It’s not a life estate for B, since the grant after A’s life ends gives B ownership in full (fee simple). It isn’t a shifting executory interest, because nothing in the grant cuts short A’s life estate or diverts ownership to someone other than B. And it isn’t a reversion held by the grantor, since the grantor didn’t retain any future interest—the property passes to B after A’s life ends.

This illustrates how a grant that uses “for life, then to” creates a life estate followed by a future interest in another person. Here, A holds a life estate, and when A dies, B becomes the owner. Because B is named and there’s no condition precedent other than the natural end of A’s life, B’s interest is a vested remainder in fee simple. It’s not a life estate for B, since the grant after A’s life ends gives B ownership in full (fee simple). It isn’t a shifting executory interest, because nothing in the grant cuts short A’s life estate or diverts ownership to someone other than B. And it isn’t a reversion held by the grantor, since the grantor didn’t retain any future interest—the property passes to B after A’s life ends.

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