What type of estate in real estate terminates upon the death of the life tenant?

A life estate is a type of property ownership that is limited in duration to the life of the individual who holds it, known as the life tenant. The key characteristic of a life estate is that it automatically terminates upon the death of the life tenant, which distinguishes it from other types of estates such as fee simple estates or remainder estates.

In a fee simple estate, the owner has complete ownership of the property with the right to use it, sell it, or pass it on to heirs without limitations. This means that ownership does not end with the owner's death—generally, it passes to their heirs. Similarly, a remainder estate refers to a future interest in property that will become possessory when a life estate terminates. Therefore, neither of these types of estates terminates upon the death of the life tenant.

A legal estate is more of a general term and does not specifically denote an estate that would end with the life tenant's death. In contrast, the life estate is specifically designed to end when the individual in question passes away, making this correct answer focused on the nature of real property and the rights of individuals within a specified time frame.