Which phrase is used to describe the surviving spouse's elective entitlement in a decedent's estate?

• A. Renunciation
• B. Marshaling the assets
• C. Dividend
• D. Statutory share, marital share, or elective share

Answer: (D)

The surviving spouse’s entitlement is described by terms like statutory share, marital share, or elective share. This reflects the right created by elective-share statutes that lets a spouse claim a minimum portion of the decedent’s estate, even if the will tries to leave the spouse out or limit their portion. “Elective share” is the broad concept—the option to take a portion of the estate—while “statutory share” or “marital share” are used in various jurisdictions to name that same entitlement. The other terms don’t describe this right: renunciation is simply choosing not to accept a bequest, marshaling the assets refers to organizing assets to satisfy claims, and a dividend is a corporate-finance term not applicable to a spouse’s probate entitlement.