No one has to act as their own lawyer here. The facts and circumstances are set forth below and the transferee(s) can determine if some or all of them are satisfied.
1) The transfer is to a family member, most typically from a parent to a child.
2) The transferor (again generally a parent) is elderly and continues to reside on the property usually until death.
3) There is some sort of understand between the parties as to the arrangement under examination.
4) The transferor, while continuing to reside on the property, pays most or all of the expenses (e.g., property taxes, utilities, mortgage interest (if any), repairs and maintenance).
5) The property is being used as the transferor's primary residence.
6) The property is sold by those formerly with a remainder interest within a short time period after death of the (implied) life tenant.
This is not rocket science; if the facts are identical or reasonably similar to those set forth above, the argument for an implied life estate will be persuasive if not determinative.
