An essential part of property law that you must understand is the concept of dower right. Dower can be defined as the legal provision by which a woman receives support in the event that she should survive her husband. In other words, dower anticipates the possibility of widowhood and the need to provide a place for her to live. As such, the wife’s position as regards real property is protected through the exercise of her legal dower right.

Don’t confuse the term dower with the term dowry, which is property or money brought by a bride to her husband at the time of marriage.