Curtesy is a legal term meaning the common law property rights that a man is entitled to upon the
death of his wife, in any property that she owned or had fee-simple rights to during her life, provided
they have had lawful children born alive which might have been capable of inheriting those rights. It
is a freehold estate for the term of the husband's life. This word is different than the commonly used
variant courtesy which relates to showing manners.
