Dower Interest

What Does Dower Interest Mean?

A dower interest refers to a widow’s legal right to claim a portion of her deceased husband’s property if he dies intestate, meaning without a will.

Many title insurance companies are required to verify that there is no dower interest before issuing a title insurance policy.

Insuranceopedia Explains Dower Interest

If a property has a dower interest, it can complicate transactions for potential buyers and title insurance companies. This is because a widow may choose to exercise her dower interest to retain control of the property even after it has been sold, potentially causing financial losses for new buyers. Therefore, whether dower interests are recognized in a particular state is a crucial factor to consider before proceeding with such transactions.