Dower and curtesy

{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-001748",
  "term": "Dower and curtesy",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "Historical common law rights that provided surviving spouses with an interest in the deceased spouse's real property. Dower granted a widow a life estate in a portion of her husband's land, while curtesy granted a widower a life estate in all of his wife's land, provided they had a child born alive. Most jurisdictions have replaced these with statutory elective share rights.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/dower-and-curtesy/"
}