Dictionary of Law
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dower :: legal definition


Dower - n. an old English common law right of a widow to one-third of her late husband's estate, which is still the law in a few states. In those states the surviving wife can choose either the dower rights or, if more generous, accept the terms of her husband's will in what is called a widow's election. In an obvious sexist imbalance, a surviving husband's equivalent right (called curtesy) is to the wife's entire estate, or if there are living children, to a life estate in everything.

See also: curtesy descent and distribution widow's election and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

access :: n. 1) in real estate the right and ability to get ... See also: DNA egress paternity suit
adequate remedy :: n. a remedy (money or performance) awarded by a co ... es it, giving cause for his arrest.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
alienation of affections :: n. convincing a wife to leave her husband, often f ... een abolished in almost all states.
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
bigamy :: n. the condition of having two wives or two husban ... d to several husbands is polyandry.
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
decree :: n. in general, synonymous with judgment. However, ... n's estate, etc. See also: judgment
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
dominant estate :: n. in real estate law, the property retained when ... See also: easement servient estate
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
et ux. :: (et uhks) n. abbreviation for the Latin words et u ... ression a chauvinistic anachronism.
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta.
marital deduction :: n. an estate tax deduction allowed a surviving spo ... community property estate tax trust
marital rights :: n. an old-fashioned expression for the rights of a ... also: consortium loss of consortium
martial law :: n. a system of complete control by a country's mil ... n and women. See also: military law
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess
presumption :: n. a rule of law which permits a court to assume a ... resumption at all, but a certainty.
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
show cause order :: n. an order of the court, also called an order to ... hild. See also: order to show cause
substantive law :: n. law which establishes principles and creates an ... are conducted. See also: procedure
vested remainder :: n. the absolute right to receive title after a pre ... pass to him. See also: vest vested
widow's election :: n. the choice a widow makes between accepting what ... nt and distribution succession will
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - D

D.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol.
D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children).
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape
day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket."
de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure
de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires
de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation
de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure
de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis.
de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo
deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon
dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property.
death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes.
death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty
debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds.