Virginia Trust Co. v. White

The question for decision is whether a widow’s dower is to be computed on the basis of the encumbered real estate of which her husband died seized, as well as of the unencumbered. The authorities answer in the affirmative. Chemical Co. v. Walston, 187 N. C., 817, 128 S. E., 196, and cases there cited. The judgment below accords with the substantive law on the subject.

It is well established that in determining the present value of dower, inchoate (Blower Co. v. MacKenzie, 197 N. C., 152, 147 S. E., 829) or consummate (Caroon v. Cooper, 63 N. C., 386), the full value of the dowable lands,…