Cal. Civ. Code § 89-7-9
Death of tenant for life; apportionment of rent.
Operative Text
When a tenant for life who shall have demised lands, shall die on or after the day when any rent became payable, his executor or administrator may recover from the under-tenant the whole rent due; and if he die before the day when any rent is to become due, he may recover the proportion of the rent which accrued before the time of the death of the tenant. The tenant for the life of another, his executor or administrator, in case of the death of the person for whose life the estate is held, on or before the day when any rent shall become due shall have like remedy; and a like apportionment shall be made in the case of annuities. History Codes, Hutchinson’s 1848, ch. 56, art. 5 (22); 1857, ch. 41, art. 20; 1871, § 1639; 1880, § 1328; 1892, § 2543; 1906, § 2881; Hemingway’s 1917, § 2379; 1930, § 2179; 1942, § 901.
Mississippi Code § 89-7-9 addresses what happens to rent obligations when a life tenant—someone who holds a lease tied to a person's lifetime—dies. If the life tenant dies on or after the date rent was due, the full rent amount can be collected by the estate's executor or administrator from the person renting beneath them. If the life tenant dies before rent comes due, only the proportional share of rent that had accrued up to the date of death may be collected, and the same apportionment principle applies to annuities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers dealing with estates of deceased life tenants should be aware that Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-9 governs how rent is collected in these situations. A compliant operator generally works with the executor or administrator of the deceased tenant's estate to determine the correct rent amount owed—either the full period's rent or a prorated share depending on the timing of death. Keeping clear records of rent due dates and payment histories helps ensure accurate apportionment calculations when such circumstances arise.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-9, tenants renting from a life tenant have defined obligations when that life tenant dies—they may owe either the full rent or only a proportional share, depending on when the death occurred relative to the rent due date. Tenants in this situation have the right to understand exactly what amount is legally owed and to whom, since the right to collect passes to the deceased's executor or administrator. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service can help clarify what payments are appropriate and what documentation to request from the estate.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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