Massachusetts Real Estate License Practice Test

What is a legal life estate that grants a spouse lifetime interest in the real estate of the owning spouse called?

1. Tenancy in Common

2. Joint Tenancy

3. Tenancy by the Entirety

4. Dower or Curtesy

The correct answer is: Dower or Curtesy

The term referring to a legal life estate that grants a spouse a lifetime interest in the real estate of the owning spouse is known as Dower or Curtesy. This concept is rooted in traditional property law where Dower refers specifically to the portion of a deceased husband’s estate that his widow is entitled to, while Curtesy refers to the husband's interest in his deceased wife's property, typically after the wife has passed away. In Massachusetts, these legal provisions help secure a spouse's financial interest in property during their lifetime, providing a form of protection for the surviving spouse. By recognizing this legal arrangement, Dower and Curtesy are essential in ensuring that spouses have certain rights to each other's property, enhancing stability and security in marital property relations. Other choices like Tenancy in Common, Joint Tenancy, and Tenancy by the Entirety represent different forms of property ownership but do not specifically focus on the lifetime interest granted to a spouse in the manner described by Dower or Curtesy.