Conditional Fee [Estate]

A fee simple [complete ownership of real property] which is limited in that it must eventually pass from the donee to certain heirs or the issue [children] of the donee [heirs of the body]. 194 S.E. 817, 819. Should the designated heir fail to be in existence at the time of the death of the donee, the property reverts [goes back] to the donor of his estate. However, the entire estate rests with the donee until his death, the donor having the mere possibility of reverter. Such a reverter may be released to the donee, thereby converting his estate from a fee simple conditional to a fee simple absolute. 275 P. 45, 52. See also defeasible fee; determinable fee; life estate.