1. One who has possessory rights in, or control over, certain property or premises.
2. One who acquires title by occupancy.
general occupant. A person who occupies land in the interim arising after the death of a pur autre vie tenant but before the death of the person who serves as the measuring life for the estate. • The pur autre vie tenant does not state who may occupy the land after the death of the first tenant; the land can be occupied by the first possessor of the land.
— Also termed common occupant. Cf. CESTUI QUE VIE.
special occupant. A person specifically designated in a conveyance as being entitled to a life estate if the conveyee dies before the end of the life estate; specif., a pur autre vie tenant’s heir who occupies land in the interim between the death of the tenant and the death of the person who serves as the measuring life for the estate. • A special occupancy can arise when the grant to the pur autre vie tenant provides that possession is for the life of the tenant, then to the tenant’s heirs.
