Course of descents generally

§ 19–301. Course of descents generally (a) The real estate in the District of Columbia, of a deceased person, male or female, if not devised, shall descend in fee simple, and the surplus of the personal estate of a deceased resident of the District, if not bequeathed, shall be distributed, to the surviving spouse, children, and other persons in the manner provided by this chapter. The 79 Stat. 698heirs specified by this subsection take the real estate as tenants in common in the same proportions as they take the surplus personal estate as provided by this chapter. (b) Subject to the right of dower, the real estate specified by subsection (a) of this section is liable, when the personal estate is insufficient, for the payment of the intestate’s funeral expenses, debts, costs of administration, and estate, inheritance, and succession taxes in the same manner and to the same extent as the personal estate of the intestate. When the real estate is sold under a decree of a court having jurisdiction over it, the consent of the surviving spouse to the sale, is not required unless the surviving spouse elects to take dower.