Q: Joint ownership, one died and left life estate, does the owner left alive have total control over land?
My grandmother and great aunt had a joint ownership on some land, my great aunt passed away and left a life estate for her husband with no further details as to what he can do with it. Does my grandmother have total control over the land?
A: You will need an attorney to search the title as you have not stated what the Deeds say. There may be a life estate, or it may have never come into existence. There are all kinds of joint ownership. It sounds like GrandMother may still own a fee or at least a one/half interest as a tenant in common. There are many other potential Estates here.
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