Final answer:
The question pertains to legal concepts associated with property and marriage, including homestead, which protects a person's primary residence, as well as dower and curtesy, which are traditional rights of widows and widowers respectively. The elective share allows a surviving spouse to claim a portion of the deceased spouse's estate, overriding the will.
Step-by-step explanation:
Legal concepts such as homestead, dower and curtesy, and elective share relate to how property is treated within the context of marriage and death. Homestead refers to a person's dwelling place, which is granted certain protections from creditors and circumstances of bankruptcy. Dower and curtesy are traditional legal rights granted to surviving spouses; dower refers to the provision for a widow, and curtesy to that for a widower. The elective share is a modern legal concept that allows a surviving spouse to claim a portion of the deceased spouse's estate, instead of what was left in the will, to ensure they are not left with nothing.
For example, a homestead exemption might protect up to a certain dollar amount of the value of a family home from creditors if the homeowner declares bankruptcy. Dower rights, where still recognized, would entitle a widow to a portion of her deceased husband’s property, whereas curtesy would provide a widower rights to his deceased wife’s property. The elective share, such as in New York State, typically allows the surviving spouse to claim one-third of the deceased spouse's estate, regardless of the will's content.