Which interest in an estate reverts back to the original fee simple owner upon the death of the life estate owner?

In the context of real estate, when discussing various types of interests in an estate, a reversionary interest refers specifically to the situation where the property automatically returns to the original fee simple owner after the death of the life estate owner. This concept is rooted in the way life estates are structured; the life tenant (the individual holding the life estate) has use and enjoyment of the property for their lifetime, after which ownership is expected to revert back to the grantor or their heirs, unless specified otherwise.

The correct selection highlights the inherent nature of life estates. Upon the conclusion of the life estate—typically marked by the death of the life tenant—the property does not transition to another party but instead reverts back to the original owner or their designated heirs. This ensures that the original owner maintains control over the property once the specified use period has ended.

Other options, while related to estate interests, do not capture this specific mechanism. A remainder interest, for example, would involve a third party receiving ownership of the property after the death of the life estate tenant, rather than the property reverting back to the original owner. Various forms of legal life estate and rights like percolating water are unrelated to the reversionary nature of the interest in this context