In life, expense to be paid (3)
I believe the answer is:
fee
'be paid' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'in life expense to' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'FEE' can be found hidden inside 'life expense to'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fee that I've seen before include "price" , "Money paid for professional services" , "Amount paid for job" , "Sum payable to, say, barrister" , "Payment to a professional for services" .)