De dote unde nihil habet

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A writ whereby a tenant was compelled to assign to a widow her dower.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A writ of dower which lay for a widow where no part of her dower had been assigned to her. It is now much disused; but a form closely resembling it is still sometimes used in the United States. 4 Kent, Comm. 63; Stearns, Real Act. 302; 1 Washb. Real Prop. 230

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

Breve. L. Lat. Writ of dower, whereof she has nothing. A writ, now much disused, which lies for a widow entitled to dower of her husband's land, where no part of it has been assigned her. commanding the tenant, or person deforcing her, to assign her reasonable dower. Reg. Orig. 170. F. N. B. 147, E. 148, A. This is a writ of right in its nature. Roscoe's Real Act. 39. It must be brought by the widow as demandant, against the tenant of the freehold, that is, the heir or his alienee, and its eflfect is to enable the former to recover from the latter the seisin of a third part of the tenements in demand, to be set forth to her in severalty by metes and bounds, together with damages and costs. 3 Steph. Com. 494.