What is a dower?

A dower is a property right available to the surviving spouse of a deceased person in the state of Massachusetts. Essentially, a dower works as a form of support for the surviving spouse after the death of his or her partner in the marriage. Under Massachusetts law, the surviving spouse has the right to a certain portion of the deceased spouse’s real property, regardless of who holds title to the property. This right is known as dower, and the surviving spouse is said to have a dower interest. The amount of the dower interest is determined by the amount of real property owned by the deceased person at the time of death. When a dower claim is brought, the court will decide on the amount the surviving spouse should be allowed to receive based on the size and value of the estate. In addition to the dower interest, the surviving spouse may also be entitled to personal property, including money, furniture, and clothing, if any is available. It’s important to note that a dower claim only applies to the property owned by the deceased spouse at the time of their death. Any property acquired after death is not included. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that a will is in place to secure the surviving spouse’s rights to the property in the event of death.

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