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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
dower
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A quick definition of dower:
Term: Dower
Definition: Dower is an old word that means when a woman's husband dies without leaving a will, she gets some of his property. Usually, she gets to use one-third to one-half of it for the rest of her life. This used to be different for men, but now both men and women have the same rights in the United States.
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A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Dower is an old-fashioned term that describes how a widow would inherit her husband's property if he died without a will. In the past, the wife would receive a life estate of one-third to one-half of her husband's property. Curtesy referred to the separate rights of the husband, but now the rights of the wife and husband are the same in the U.S.
Example: If John passed away without a will, his wife Mary would be entitled to a portion of his property through dower. She would receive a life estate of one-third to one-half of John's property, depending on the state they lived in.
Explanation: This example illustrates how dower works in practice. If a husband dies without a will, his wife is entitled to a portion of his property through dower. This ensures that the wife is taken care of after her husband's passing.