Dower refers to what?

• A. A widower's interest in his wife's estate
• B. A widow's interest in her deceased husband's estate
• C. A life estate created by court order
• D. A defeasible fee with conditions

Answer: (B)

Dower is the widow’s interest in her deceased husband’s real property, typically a life estate in a portion of that property. This right is designed to provide financial support for the widow after her husband dies, and it applies specifically to real estate rather than personal property. The widow can use and benefit from the property for life, but she does not own it outright in fee simple.

This concept fits the scenario because it describes a widow’s protected stake in her husband’s estate after his death. The other options describe different ideas: a widower’s interest in his wife’s estate is known as curtesy, not dower; a life estate created by court order is a separate, court-imposed arrangement; and a defeasible fee is a type of ownership interest with conditions, not a widow’s life estate in her husband’s real property.