Widow

Widow, by English law, has rights of some importance in her husband's property. She is entitled to dower—i.e. to a life estate in one-third of his lands; the Dower Act of 1833 extends this right to equitable estates, but by the same act great facilities were given for barring the widow's claim, and dower estates are now seldom met with in practice. A widow is also entitled to a share in her husband's personal property not disposed of by will; her share is one-third if there be any child or other descendant of the husband, one-half if there be none. A woman loses her dower by divorce, but not by judicial separation; if she leaves her husband to live with an adulterer, she loses her dower unless the husband takes her back willingly. For the rights of a widow in Scotland, see articles DEAD'S PART, HUSBAND AND WIFE, JOINTURE. In the United States a widow usually takes one-third of her husband's personalty not disposed of, and one-third or more of his real estate, but the laws of the different states vary widely on this point; see Stimson's American Statute Law.