Who is the person giving land as a gift while retaining control over its use?

The individual giving land as a gift while retaining control over its use is referred to as the grantor. In real estate terminology, the grantor is the party that transfers property rights to another person, known as the grantee. Importantly, when a grantor provides land as a gift yet maintains certain controls over its use, it often involves specific legal arrangements that allow the grantor to impose conditions or retain some level of authority.

For example, in cases where property is transferred but the grantor wants to ensure that it will be used in a certain manner or for a specific purpose, they can retain rights that dictate how the property may be used. This arrangement can also be seen in various legal instruments, such as a life estate, where the grantor may retain the right to live on or utilize the property for a specified duration while giving the ownership rights to the grantee.

The roles of the other terms are distinct. The grantee is the recipient of the property, the beneficiary typically refers to someone who benefits from a trust, and the trustor is the person who creates a trust. Understanding the specific function of each term clarifies why the grantor correctly identifies the individual giving property with retained use rights.