Word Watch · Term 05 of 30 · 0:46
Fee simple absolute
ProductionIllustrated Click2CE lesson; AI-assisted production with Sarah narration
In brief
Fee simple absolute is a broad ownership estate without a fixed end date, subject to applicable public and private limitations.
Example
An owner may transfer or leave the estate to heirs, but ownership does not remove zoning or other applicable restrictions.
TranscriptRead along, or select a timestamp to jump there
- Watch this home's ownership move from one person
- to the next.
- Fee simple absolute is the broadest private ownership
- estate.
- It is potentially perpetual and inheritable.
- The current owner can transfer it, and an
- heir can inherit it.
- Notice that our timeline has no preset ending.
- Compare that with a life estate, which is
- measured by a specified person's life.
- And compare it with a defeasible fee, which
- may end when a specified condition occurs.
- The word absolute does not erase legal limits.
- Taxes, zoning, and valid liens can still apply.
- Quick check:
- does fee simple absolute mean an owner can
- ignore zoning?
- No.
- Broad ownership still operates within the law.
