Property Ownership

Dower rights in traditional common law gave a spouse a life estate in what fraction of the deceased spouse's real property?

AOne-quarter
BOne-third✓ Correct
COne-half
DTwo-thirds

Explanation

Under traditional common law dower, a surviving wife (and curtesy for a surviving husband) received a life estate in one-third of the real property owned by the deceased spouse. Most states, including WV, have replaced these rights with elective share statutes.

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