What type of estate does an owner possess if the duration of their rights cannot be determined?

An owner possesses a freehold estate when the duration of their rights cannot be specifically determined. This type of estate is characterized by an indefinite duration, meaning the owner can hold the property for an indeterminate period. Freehold estates can include various forms such as fee simple absolute, fee simple subject to a condition, or life estates.

In contrast, leasehold estates have a defined duration as they are tied to a specific lease agreement with a start and end date. An estate for years is similar, as it also has a fixed term. A life estate represents ownership that lasts for the lifetime of an individual, which also does not qualify as indefinite in the same way that freehold estates do. Therefore, the correct understanding of a freehold estate lies in its inherently unknown duration, distinguishing it from these other types of estates.