What is the term for property held by a widow?

The term for property held by a widow is referred to as dower. In property law, dower rights provide a widow with a life interest in a portion of her deceased husband's property, ensuring that she has some financial security and control over the property during her lifetime. This concept comes from traditional legal practices where a widow was entitled to inherit a portion of her husband's estate; normally, this is one-third of the property if there are surviving children.

Dower is focused specifically on the rights granted to widows as a form of protection and support, distinguishing it from other forms of property interests.

Curtesy, on the other hand, is the counterpart to dower but applies to widowers; it grants a husband rights to his deceased wife's property under certain conditions. Joint tenancy refers to a form of co-ownership where two or more individuals own property together, sharing equal interest and rights. Life estate, meanwhile, is an interest in property that lasts for the life of a specific individual. Each of these terms represents distinct legal concepts unrelated to the specific context of property held by a widow.