Missouri Revised Statutes
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 474.110 (2026)
Curtesy and dower abolished
✓ current as of May 2026
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474.110. Curtesy and dower abolished. — The estates of curtesy and dower are hereby abolished, but any such estate now vested is not affected by this code.
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(L. 1955 p. 385 § 246)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases, 1956–2003 · leading case: Sando v. Phillips, 319 S.W.2d 648 (Mo. 1959).
Sando v. Phillips, 319 S.W.2d 648 (Mo. 1959). “See Section 474.110 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S., and Section 1 of the Probate Code of 1955, Laws of Missouri 1955, p.”
Wilkinson v. Vaughn, 419 S.W.2d 1 (Mo. 1967). “He married several months after the contract of sale, but dower was abolished in Missouri by the 1955 Probate Code, § 474.110, RSMo 1959, V.A.M.S. Clearly, a husband may now convey his separate property without his wife joining in the deed.”
Est. of Dugger v. Dugger, 110 S.W.3d 423 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003). “It is our view that the Beneficiary Deed under review simply did not meet the requirements of a written contract which constitutes a spousal waiver of rights of inheritance or other statutory rights of a surviving spouse as in an ante-nuptial or postnuptial contract.”
State v. Cox, 784 S.W.2d 244 (Mo. Ct. App. 1989). “2 James has no ownership interest since Patricia’s interest is her separate property, § 451.250, RSMo 1986 (property devised to spouse is separate property), and the common-law interests of a husband in his wife’s property have been abolished by statute.”
Reinheimer v. Rhedans, 327 S.W.2d 823 (Mo. 1959). “Sections 474.110 and 474.150 Mo.Cum. Supp.”
First Nat'l Bank of Kansas City v. Jacques, 470 S.W.2d 557 (Mo. 1971). “However, dower was abolished in this State in 1955, § 474.110, RSMo 1969, V.A.M.S., and the surviving spouse was designated an heir, § 472.”
Caplinger v. Caplinger, 438 S.W.2d 284 (Mo. 1969). “He married several months after the contract of sale, but dower was abolished in Missouri by the 1955 Probate Code, § 474.110, RSMo 1959, V.A. M.S. Clearly, a husband may now convey his separate property without his wife joining in the deed.”
Traders Nat'l Bank of Kansas City v. United States, 148 F. Supp. 278 (W.D. Mo. 1956). “” Though dower in Missouri has been abolished, § 474.110, V.A.M.S., the law as it was in effect prior to January 1, 1956, is controlling.”
Kelce v. Comm'r, 37 T.C.M. 1851-79 (Tax Ct. 1978). “While the parties stipulated that petitioner filed a "timely election for dower," we note that "dower" as such was abolished in Missouri in 1969 by sec.”
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