New Jersey Statutes Title 3B. Administration of Estates Decedents and Others 3B § 28-1

The widow or widower, whether alien or not, of an individual dying intestate or otherwise, shall be endowed for the term of his life of one half of all real property of which the decedent, or another to the decedent's use, was seized of an estate of inheritance at any time during marriage prior to May 28, 1980, unless the widow or widower shall have relinquished her right of dower or his right of curtesy in the manner provided by P.L.1953, c. 352 (C.37:2-18.1) or such right of dower or such right of curtesy otherwise shall have been extinguished by law.