Act No. 489

Public Acts of 2016

Approved by the Governor

January 5, 2017

Filed with the Secretary of State

January 6, 2017

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 6, 2017

STATE OF MICHIGAN

98TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2016

Introduced by Senator Jones

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 558

AN ACT to amend 1846 RS 66, entitled “Of estates in dower, by the curtesy, and general provisions concerning real estate,” (MCL 558.1 to 558.29) by adding section 30; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 30. (1) Notwithstanding sections 1 to 29, and except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), a wife’s dower right is abolished and unenforceable either through statute or at common law.

(2) This section does not apply to either of the following:

(a) A widow’s dower elected by a woman whose husband died before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section.

(b) If a widow’s husband died before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the widow’s right to elect dower under section 2202 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.2202.

Enacting section 1. Sections 2931 and 2933 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2931 and 600.2933, are repealed.

Enacting section 2. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.

Enacting section 3. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 98th Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 560.

(b) House Bill No. 5520.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor