Buying a Life Estate and Future Interest

[stamello]

This is a question about property in Georgia.
I just purchased a house and some acreage in Georgia. The family next door has offered to sell me an adjoining piece of acreage. The way it was explained to me was that the mother really owned it, but that the son would inherit it. A bit of research tells me that the father (now deceased) left the property to the son (my neighbor) with a life estate for the mother (living with my son the neighbor).
The son tells me that both he and the mother want to sell me all of their interest in the property. Will this work? How? I know I need to get a real estate attorney, but I'm just trying to get a handle on the various ways to deal with this issue before I go talk to one.
Thanks for your help.

[jk]

what the mother owns and what the son owns are two different issues. The mother owns a life estate, which basically means she has control of the property as long as she lives. The son owns the actual property but cannot take control of the property until moms life estate ends or is terminated for some reason.

So, either party can sell their interests, separate from the others issue.

So, yes, speak with an attorney to be sure you purchase all interest in the property, if that is what you intend. Son cannot sell moms interest and mom cannot sell sons interest.