property
dower
Dower is a historical life estate interest that a wife held in the real property her husband owned during the marriage, usually one-third of it, which took effect at his death. Curtesy was the matching right for a husband. Many states have abolished or modified dower and curtesy, often replacing them with elective share laws or gender-neutral rights, so the rules vary by state.
- Exam tip
- Remember the pairing: dower is the wife's interest, curtesy is the husband's. Exams also test that dower is a form of life estate created by law rather than by deed.
- Example
- In a state that still recognizes dower, a husband who sells land without his wife's signature on the deed may leave the buyer exposed to her future dower claim.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23