The Court of Chancery in which a partition proceeding may be pending, at any time prior to the decree of distribution, upon the petition of a widow entitled to dower in the whole or any part of the real estate which is the subject of the partition proceedings, or upon the petition of any party to such proceedings, may appraise the value of the widow's dower in the real estate, and in the decree of distribution order the appraised valuation shall be paid to the widow, and the residue paid to the other parties entitled thereto.