What is the Habendum Clause?

The habendum clause, so named because in medieval times it began with the Latin phrase habendum et tenendum ("to have and to hold"), limited the estate or tenancy being conveyed.

Today, the habendum clause starts with the words "to have and to hold." Then, usually, the word "forever" follows if the estate is fee simple or the words "for the life of the grantee" if it is a life estate.

Any other restrictions or limitations on the property's use, such as reservation by the seller to retain mineral rights to the land, are usually entered before or after the habendum clause.