What is the definition of a life estate pur autre vie?

A life estate pur autre vie is specifically defined as a life estate that is measured by the life of someone other than the grantee (the person who receives the property). This definition highlights the distinctive feature of this type of life estate: while the grantee enjoys the benefits of the property during the lifetime of another person, the duration of their interest in the property is contingent upon the life of that other individual.

In practical terms, this means that the grantee does not have a life estate based on their own lifespan but rather on the life of another person, often referred to as the "measuring life." For example, if the life estate is granted to someone based on the life of their parent, the estate exists as long as the parent is alive, and once the parent passes away, the life estate terminates.

This type of arrangement is distinct from other choices, which either describe a life estate measured by the grantee's own life or include concepts about transferability to heirs or indefinite duration, neither of which apply to the definition of a life estate pur autre vie.