The fee simple is the basic land ownership interest in the United States. A person who owns real property in fee simple has the right to the entire property for an unlimited period of time and the unconditional power to dispose of it either during his lifetime or on his death. A life estate is a property interest that gives a person the right to use property only for his own lifetime or for a time that is measured by the lifetime of somebody else. A person who has a life estate in a piece of real property has the right to use the property but does not have the right to commit acts that will result in permanent injury to the property.

HYPOTHETICAL:

William D. Robinson left a will in which he gave his real estate as follows: I give all of my real estate to my wife, Lela S. Robinson, and at her death it goes to Frank M. Robin- son, and at his death to his two boys, David Robinson and Richard Robinson.

QUESTION:

Does Lela have a fee simple interest in the property or a life estate?