A life estate is an interest in real property whose duration is limited to the person holding it or the life of someone else.
In general, the life tenant has rights of possession and the use of the land as well as obligations to the remainder man to preserve the estate. These rights include such things as right to rents, issues and profits accruing during his life estate; right to cultivate and harvest annual crops; right to receive insurance proceeds when the life tenant insures his own interest.
The life tenant is obligated to maintain buildings, fences and other improvements and pay taxes.