### id242087631 bride-price customs complicate inheritance for widows > Proving a customary marriage is a serious burden and impediment for widows in the existing legal system. There is no clear moment when a customary marriage begins. A wedding ceremony may not take place. In prevailing cultures in Zimbabwe, at the start of a marriage, the groom’s family negotiates a bride price, or *lobola*, to the bride’s family. Sometimes this agreement is written, which, if in the possession of the widow, can be used to help prove the marriage. The *lobola* often includes some combination of cattle and cash. In other contexts, the practice of *lobola* may give the impression to family members of the husband that they have already paid money to the bride (even though wives do not receive any of the *lobola*) and therefore widows should not be entitled to inheritance upon the death of a husband - [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01fjx0rvgvtqppn93jzh60ayzg) - [[You Will Get Nothing via Human Rights Watch#id242087631 bride-price customs complicate inheritance for widows|View in Vault]]