In a life estate, what happens to the property upon the death of the life tenant in Georgia?

In Georgia, when a life tenant dies, the property they held in a life estate does not revert to the state or to the life tenant's family. Instead, upon the death of the life tenant, the property passes to the vested remainder holders. This means that the rights to the property are transferred to the individuals named as remainder beneficiaries in the original conveyance.

The life tenant had the right to use the property for their lifetime, but this interest is inherently temporary and is defined by the life span of the tenant. Once that individual passes away, the remainder interest becomes possessory and the remainder holders gain full ownership of the property. This principle is fundamental in property law, reflecting the distinction between a life estate and a remainder interest, where the latter is dependent on the prior interest (the life estate) coming to an end.

Thus, in the context of Georgia law, the correct outcome following the death of a life tenant is that the property moves directly to the vested remainder holders, ensuring the continuity of ownership as intended by the original conveyance.