This week let's take a look at Primogeniture, Coverture, Dower and Intestate. I would appreciate your comments. Primogeniture - Latin for "first born." A rule from feudal England carried over into English Common Law that the oldest son would inherit the entire estate of his parents or nearest ancestor. If there was no male heir, the daughters would receive the property in equal shares. The intent was to preserve larger properties from being broken into small holdings, which would weaken the power of nobles. Coverture - Under English Common Law, the inclusion of a woman in the legal person of her husband upon marriage and, as such, under his protection and authority. Because of coverture, married women did not have the legal capacity to own their own property or contract on their own behalf. Dower - Interest in a part of her dead husband's estate allotted by English Common Law to the wife for use in her lifetime. Since Common Law provided for Primogeniture, the eldest son inherited all the father's real property except the 1/3 of land and property the wife was legally entitled during her life-time. The law of Primogeniture was replaced in Virginia by Governor Thomas Jefferson in 1776 with estate rules that allocated the land more evenly with 1/3 to the wife and the remainder to be divided equally among the sons, if the father died intestate. Intestate - A person who dies without making a valid will. A probate court will then determine the distribution of the deceased's assets according to prevailing law. "he died intestate"; "intestate property". To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html