Section 5307.17. Dower assigned to widow - exceptions

(A) When a widow is entitled to dower in an estate of which partition is sought, dower must be assigned her in the estate, except in the following cases:

(1) When an assignment of dower already has been made;

(2) When, by answer, she has elected to be endowed out of the proceeds of a sale of the estate, and the commissioner or commissioners do not make partition but return a valuation of it;

(3) When the right of dower extends only to an undivided interest in the estate.

(B) In cases in which the right of dower extends only to an undivided interest in the estate, and in cases in which an undivided interest is subject to a life estate, and the tenant for life has not, by answer, elected to receive the value of the tenant for life's estate out of the proceeds of a sale of such interest, if an appraisement of the estate is to be returned, the commissioner or commissioners may assign the dower or set off the life estate, or, if the commissioner or commissioners find it for the interest of the parties to do so, the commissioner or commissioners may appraise the whole interest, and the widow and the tenant for life shall receive the value of their interests out of the proceeds of a sale of it.

Effective Date: 10-14-1997