What happens if the condition of a fee simple defeasible estate is violated?

When a fee simple defeasible estate is involved, it comes with certain conditions or limitations placed on the use of the property. If these conditions are violated, the primary consequence is that the property automatically reverts back to the grantor, or their heirs. This automatic transfer is known as the "reversion" effect inherent in a defeasible estate. The law recognizes this automatic reversal without requiring any legal action such as going to court.

This happens because the intent behind the creation of a fee simple defeasible estate is to maintain specific controls over the property’s future use. As a result, if the condition is not upheld — for instance, if the property is used for an unintended purpose — the grantor, or the original owner who set forth those conditions, has the right to reclaim ownership without undergoing the lengthy process of court intervention.

Recognizing the automatic nature of reversion helps clarify why this choice is the correct answer among others. For instance, the notion that the property can be sold immediately overlooks the implications of the violation; it disregards the consequences tied to the conditional nature of the estate. Similarly, suggesting that the property remains with the shelter indefinitely ignores the legal mechanisms that restore ownership to the grantor after a breach of condition. Lastly,