Southside Listers seem to be quite interested in land holdings (as well we should be). In fact, one well-known genealogist-lecturer-editor of a prominent genealogical journal states that if you are doing Southern research, and you are NOT researching land records, you are not doing research. Sometimes this is the only way we find the name of a female ancestor--without a maiden name, most of the time! Anyway, although the lessons on the following website will not answer ALL of your questions regarding land, it may broaden your knowledge of land records. http://users.arn.net/~billco/uslpr5.htm As many of you know, the State and US laws changed all the time. As one person on the List has already pointed out, North Carolina after a certain period had different laws from Virginia, and you may not see many relinquishments of dower in NC as in VA. Later, when some of the States which came into the Union after being held by the Spanish or Mexican Government, community property came into being in US laws. Many Western states have this legal system. According to experts in the field of community property, this Spanish law came into being upon the accession to the throne of Queen Isabella. And Louisiana has its own different code. So much to know in genealogy!!! But ain't it fun!!! E.W.Wallace southern California