Legal Definitions - unde nihil habet

Definition: Unde nihil habet is a Latin term used in law, meaning "whereof she has nothing." It refers to a writ of dower that a widow can claim if she has not been assigned any dower within the time allowed by law.

Example: Let's say a woman's husband dies, and she is entitled to a dower, which is a portion of her husband's property that she can claim as her own. If the dower is not assigned to her within the time allowed by law, she can file a writ of unde nihil habet to claim her dower.

Explanation: The example illustrates how unde nihil habet is used in a legal context. It shows that if a widow has not been assigned her dower within the time allowed by law, she can use this writ to claim what is rightfully hers.