What is a remainder?

• A. A present interest that ends at the natural expiration of the preceding life estate.
• B. A future interest that becomes possessory on the expiration of the preceding life estate.
• C. A nonpossessory right to use land for a specific purpose.
• D. A reversion to the grantor.

Answer: (B)

A remainder is a future interest that becomes possessory on expiration of the preceding life estate. It is created in a transferee and follows a life estate, so possession occurs automatically when the life tenant’s estate ends naturally. For example, “to A for life, then to B” gives B a remainder because B will take possession when A dies. This differs from a reversion, which stays with the grantor after conveying a lesser estate, or from a nonpossessory right like an easement, which does not grant possession. The life estate itself is the present interest and ends with the life tenant; the remainder completes that transfer upon natural termination.