Dower refers to a wife's life estate in her husband's property.

Dower refers to a wife's life estate in her husband's property.

• A. The wife's joint tenancy rights
• B. A wife's life estate in her husband's property
• C. A husband's life estate in the wife's property
• D. A child's life estate

Answer: (B)

Dower is the widow’s interest in her husband’s real property. It gives the wife a life estate in a portion of her husband’s real estate, typically lasting for her lifetime and ending when she dies. This right is tied to the husband’s property, not to the wife’s, and it does not convey ownership beyond a life estate. Historically, dower often equaled about one-third of the husband’s real property, though the exact fraction and existence of dower can vary by jurisdiction today, with many places replacing it with elective shares or other statutory rights. This concept is distinct from a husband’s rights in the wife’s property (curtesy) and from any life estate a child might have.

Dower is the widow’s interest in her husband’s real property. It gives the wife a life estate in a portion of her husband’s real estate, typically lasting for her lifetime and ending when she dies. This right is tied to the husband’s property, not to the wife’s, and it does not convey ownership beyond a life estate. Historically, dower often equaled about one-third of the husband’s real property, though the exact fraction and existence of dower can vary by jurisdiction today, with many places replacing it with elective shares or other statutory rights. This concept is distinct from a husband’s rights in the wife’s property (curtesy) and from any life estate a child might have.