Fee Simple Absolute

In the Anglo-American legal system land is not owned directly. Rather, people own legal interests in land. The reason land is owned in this way goes back to the feudal origins of land holding in England. The fee simple absolute is one of the estates in land, which emerged from that system.

This lesson will help you understand: (1) the legal concept of an estate in land, (2) the legal characteristics of the fee simple absolute, and (3) what is necessary to create a fee simple absolute.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Define what constitutes an estate in land.
2. Identify all the legal characteristics of a fee simple absolute.
3. State what is necessary to create a fee simple absolute.
4. List the characteristics of the fee simple absolute.