Surviving Spouse Property Rights

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Summary

As a surviving spouse in Arkansas, you generally have rights to your deceased spouses property. Dower laws provide a wife with a life estate to 1/3 of her husbands real property, while curtesy gives a husband a life estate in all the wifes real property if they had children. Consult a local attorney to understand your specific rights and how they apply to your situation.

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We live in Arkansas. I lived with my now husband for 5 years before we were married. During this time we did major repairs on his house. House was paid for years before me. He has * grown children. * from previous marriage and we have * that is ours. All kids are in their *'s. We've been married almost 1 year. He was diagnosed with stage * cancer. We don't have a life expectancy. * of his boys from previous marriage has already moved most of his belongings into a storage building near here. He wants to move in as soon as his dad dies. But this is my home I want to live here too. Do I have any rights since we've been married such a short time? Does my chances of getting to stay in my home increase as the years go by?
In Arkansas, as a surviving spouse, you generally have rights to your deceased spouse's property. The specifics would depend on whether your husband has a will or not, and the details therein. It's advisable to consult with a local attorney to understand your rights better.
Can you tell me about Arkansas dower and curtesy law?
In Arkansas, dower and curtesy laws provide certain rights to surviving spouses:
- Dower provides a wife with a life estate to */* of her husband's real property.
- Curtesy gives a husband a life estate in all the wife's real property if they had children.
Please consult a local attorney for personalized advice.
Thank you
You're welcome, Sherry! If you need more information or have additional questions in the future, don't hesitate to contact us. Best of luck with everything.