Curtesy

Husband's common law rights to the property his deceased wife owned either during the marriage or at the time of her death. The husband has life estate rights in the deceased wife's property. State laws differ on curtesy rights, and many states have eliminated them entirely. for example, as a result of Thomas'curtesy right, he has a life estate with his late wife's home, but at the time of his death the some devolves to the children from her first marriage.