Widow's election

{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-005229",
  "term": "Widow's election",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "A legal principle in estate planning where a surviving spouse must choose between taking what is provided for her in her deceased husband's will or asserting her statutory elective share rights. This choice typically arises when the will attempts to dispose of community property or other assets in a way that might disadvantage the surviving spouse. The election aims to prevent the spouse from receiving both the testamentary gift and a statutory share.",
  "see_also": [
    "elective share"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/widow-s-election/"
}