Which type of estate cannot be passed down by inheritance?

A conventional life estate is characterized by the fact that it lasts for the lifetime of a designated individual, known as the life tenant. Upon the death of the life tenant, the estate automatically terminates and ownership is transferred to another party, typically the remainderman. This mechanism ensures that the life estate cannot be passed down through inheritance, as the rights of the life tenant end at their death, and the estate is not an asset that can be inherited by their heirs.

In contrast, a fee simple estate and a fee simple subject to condition subsequent estate can be inherited by the owner's heirs, making them transferable. Similarly, a pur autre vie life estate, which is based on the life of someone other than the life tenant, can also be inherited until the measuring life ends, at which point it terminates. This distinction is important in understanding estate planning and property rights, as the type of estate influences what happens to property after the owner’s death.