Under common law, what estate does a widow receive from her deceased husband's property?

The correct answer is that a widow receives dower, which is a life estate in one third of the property. Under common law, dower rights were designed to provide a widow with a legal interest in her deceased husband’s property. Specifically, the widow was entitled to a life estate in one third of the husband's real estate, which means she would have the right to use and enjoy that portion of the property for the duration of her life. This legal provision was intended to ensure that widows had some financial security after the death of their husbands.

Dower does not grant ownership of the property but rather a limited interest that ceases upon the widow's death or remarriage. This framework was established to protect widows from destitution and was rooted in the societal norms of the time when most women did not have independent means.

While other choices suggest various types of interests or rights in property, they do not accurately reflect the rights afforded to widows under common law. For example, curtesy refers to the rights of a husband upon the death of his wife, not applicable here. Additionally, a fixed dollar amount determined by the court and half of the property if children are involved are not recognized forms of inheritance for a widow under traditional common law