Opinion of the Justices to the Senate

To the Honorable the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

The undersigned Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court respectfully submit these answers to the questions set forth in an order of the Senate dated June 18, 1958, and transmitted to us on June 20. The order refers to a pending bill, Senate No. 388, entitled “An Act to restrict dower and curtesy claims to land owned at the death of the claimant’s spouse.”

The bill has three sections. Section 1 seeks to amend by striking out G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 189, § 1, and substituting the following: “A husband shall upon the death of his wife…