Remedies available when tenancy dependent upon life of another terminates
Wis. Stat. § 704.40
in effect(1) Any person occupying premises as tenant of the owner of a life estate or any person owning an estate for the life of another, upon cessation of the measuring life, is liable to the owner of the reversion or remainder for the reasonable rental value of the premises for any period the occupant remains in possession after termination of the life estate. Rental value as used in this section has the same meaning as rental value defined in s. 704.27.
(2) The owner of the reversion or remainder can remove the occupant in any lawful manner including eviction proceedings under ch. 799 as follows:
(a) If the occupant has no lease for a term, upon terminating the occupant’s tenancy by giving notice as provided in s. 704.19;
(b) If the occupant is in possession under a lease for a term, upon termination of the lease or one year after written notice to the occupant given in the manner provided by s. 704.21 whichever occurs first, except that a farm tenancy can be terminated only at the end of a rental year.
(3) The occupant must promptly after written demand give information as to the nature of the occupant’s possession. If the occupant fails to do so, the reversioner or remainderman may treat the occupant as a tenant from month-to-month.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/704.40Fetched: 10/7/2026