Legal Definitions - quarantina habenda

Definition: Quarantina habenda is a legal term that refers to a writ ordering a sheriff to give a widow possession of part of her husband's estate, after she had been wrongfully ejected but before dower is assigned.

For example, if a widow is wrongfully removed from her husband's property after his death, she can use a quarantina habenda writ to regain possession of the property until her dower rights are determined.

This legal term is derived from the Latin phrase "de quarantina habenda," which means "of return of quarantine."