Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Michigan

Bower Rights

What are the bower rights in a marriage?


Asked on 12/01/00, 5:31 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Don Darnell Darnell & Lulgjuraj, P.C.

Re: Bower Rights

I think you mean "Dower Rights." Dower is a common law right (codified at MCLA 558.1 et seq) which give a wife the lifelong use of one-third of all the lands her husband held title in during the marriage.

Usually, when a male seller, who is married, sells land his wife waives that interest by signing a document to that effect. While I don't know much about divorce, I would guess that divorce judgments also address the issue of dower rights in land.

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Answered on 12/04/00, 5:45 pm


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