Legal Dictionary of Pakistan
Quick lookup for English, Urdu, and Latin legal terms used in Pakistani jurisprudence.
Dotalitium
n. [Law Latin] Hist. Dower. "[S]ome have ascribed the introduction of dower to the Normans, as a branch of their local tenures; though we cannot expect any feodal reason for its invention, since it was not a part of the pure, primitive, simple law of feuds, but was first of all introduced into that system (wherein it was called ... dotalitium) by the emperor Frederick the second; who was contemporary with our king Henry III. It is possible therefore that it might be with us the relic of a Danish custom: since, according to the historians of that country, dower was introduced into Denmark by Swein, the father of our Canute the great, out of gratitude to the Danish ladies, who sold all their jewels to ransom him when taken prisoner by the Vandals." 2 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 129-30 (1766).
dotal
adj. Of or relating to dowry. See DOWRY.
dotal property
Civil law. Separate property that the wife brings to the marriage to assist the husband with the marriage expenses.
extradotal property
Civil law. Property that forms no part of a woman's dowry. - Also termed paraphernal property.
regime dotal
Hist. civil law. The right and power of a husband to administer his wife's dotal property, the property being returned to the wife when the marriage is dissolved by death or divorce. See DOTAL PROPERTY.