Appointment of commissioners; cases of partition

§ 16–2921. Appointment of commissioners; cases of partitionWhen real property is held by a person or persons, by descent or purchase, in the whole of which a widow or widower is entitled to dower, either the widow or widower or a person entitled to the property or an undivided share therein may apply to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to have the dower therein assigned. Thereupon, the court shall appoint three commissioners to lay off and assign the dower, if practicable. The report of the commissioners is subject to ratification by the court. In all cases of partition between two or more joint tenants or tenants in common of real property, in the whole of which a widow or widower is entitled to dower, the dower shall be laid off and assigned, in like manner, before the partition is decreed. When an estate of which a woman or man is dowable is entire, and the dower can not be set off therefrom by metes and bounds, it may be assigned by the court as of a third part of the net rents, issues, and profits thereof.