Consummate Dower Law and Legal Definition
Consummate dower is a wife’s interest in her deceased husband’s estate up to the time when that interest is legally assigned to her. Upon the death of the husband, the dower right of the wife loses its contingent character and becomes “consummate,” as it is called. However, it is not considered an estate, but is merely a right in action until the land in which the widow is to hold her dower is set off to her. However, the wife is entitled to sue in order to protect the land of her husband from injury by the heir or other persons.
