Dower is a wife’s right to a share of her deceased husband’s real property (real estate). It is sometimes called the widow’s share. Under English and American common law, the widow is entitled to one-third of her husband’s property during her lifetime. The common law bars a husband from transferring ownership of his real property during his lifetime without his wife’s consent. This protects the wife’s dower right. A husband may also claim a share of his deceased wife’s property. This right is called estate by curtesy. A smaller house on a large estate, usually of the aristocracy, intended for a widow is known as the dower house. The word dowager is related to dower. The widow of a titled husband may be known as the dowager, as in the dowager duchess.
Most states in the United States have eliminated or modified the common-law dower right. Some states have community property laws, rather than the law of dower. These laws provide that a couple share ownership of property gained during their marriage.
See also Common law; Community property.
