Legal Definitions - dotalitium

Dotalitium (doh-tuh-lish-ee-uhm) is a legal term that refers to dower, which is a form of inheritance.

Dower is a portion of a deceased husband's real property that is set aside for his widow to use during her lifetime.

For example, if a man owned a house and died, his wife would be entitled to live in the house and use it as her own until she died or remarried.

Dower was first introduced into the feudal system by the emperor Frederick the second, and it is possible that it was originally a Danish custom.

The term dotalitium is not commonly used today, but it is still important to understand the concept of dower and how it has influenced inheritance laws throughout history.