“DOWER AD OSTIUM ECCLESIAE….

By SovConn | July 23, 2014

This appears to have been the original English

dower …. It was formerly the most usual species of dower, and, though latterly fallen into disuse,

was not abolished until the statute of 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 105, s. 13 …. The wife might be endowed

of personalty or goods as well as of lands, and a trace of this ancient kind of dower is still

distinctly preserved in the marriage ritual of the church of England, in the expression ‘with all my

worldly goods I thee endow.’ ” 1 Alexander M. Burrill, A Law Dictionary and Glossary 520 (2d ed.

1867).

dower by custom.Hist. Dower that is determined by custom rather than the general law. —

Also termed dower by particular custom.

“Dower by …custom; as that the wife shall have half the husband’s lands, or in some places

the whole, and in some only a quarter.” 2 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of

England 132 (1766).

dower by particular custom.See dower by custom.

dower by the common law.The regular dower, consisting of a life interest in one-third of the

lands that the husband held in fee. — Also termed dos rationabilis (dos

rash-[ee]-<<schwa>>-nab-<<schwa>>-l<<schwa>>s). [Cases: Dower and Curtesy 10, 11. C.J.S.

Dower §§ 10, 12–29, 140, 147–152.]

dower consummate.See consummate dower.

dower ex assensu patris (eks <<schwa>>-sen-s[y]oo pa-tris), n.[Law Latin “dower by the

father’s assent”] Hist. A type of dower ad ostium ecclesiae made while the husband’s father is alive

and consents to the endowment to his son’s wife.

dower inchoate.See inchoate dower.

election dower.A widow’s right to take a statutory share of her deceased husband’s estate if

she chooses to reject her share under a will. See RIGHT OF ELECTION.

equitable dower.See equitable jointure under JOINTURE(1).

inchoate dower (in-koh-it). A wife’s interest in her husband’s estate while both are living. —

Also termed dower inchoate. [Cases: Dower and Curtesy 29–53. C.J.S. Dower §§ 41–63, 141,

153–162.] [Blacks Law 8th]