What is the term for the right of a spouse to inherit property held in their deceased spouse's name?

The term "dower and curtesy" refers to the legal rights that a surviving spouse has to inherit a portion of the deceased spouse’s property, specifically relating to real estate assets. Dower traditionally grants the wife a one-third interest in her husband’s estate upon his death, while curtesy provides similar rights to the husband in his deceased wife's estate, contingent upon couple having children together. This concept exists to protect the surviving spouse from disinheritance and ensures they have a continued interest in the property that they shared during the marriage.

In contrast, the other options describe different legal concepts. Joint tenancy pertains to property ownership where two or more parties hold equal shares and includes the right of survivorship, which allows for the deceased owner’s share to automatically pass to the surviving owner(s) without going through probate. Survivorship rights are related to joint tenancy but do not specifically address inheritance from a deceased spouse's property. A life estate involves a property interest that lasts for the lifetime of a specified individual and does not inherently confer inheritance rights upon a surviving spouse after that individual's death. Hence, "dower and curtesy" is specifically focused on the surviving spouse’s right to inherit property that was solely in the deceased spouse’s name.