Mishnayos Kesuvos Perek 12 Mishnah 4

As long as a widow is living in the house of her father and is being supported by her husband’s heirs, she may always collect payment of her marriage contract, even after many years. As long as she is living in the house of her husband, she may collect payment of her marriage contract until twenty-five years later, at which point she may no longer collect the payment. This is because there is enough time in twenty-five years for her to do favors and give to others, thereby spending the resources of the orphans, until what she has spent equals the value of her marriage contract. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir, who said it in the name of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. And the Rabbis say the opposite: As long as she is residing in the house of her husband she may always collect payment of her marriage contract, since during this time the heirs are caring for her and she is therefore embarrassed to sue them for payment of her marriage contract. However, as long as she is in the house of her father she may collect payment of her marriage contract until twenty-five years later, and if by then she has not sued for it, it is assumed that she has waived her rights to it. If she died, her heirs mention her marriage contract up until twenty-five years later.

כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בְבֵית אָבִיהָ, גּוֹבָה כְתֻבָּתָהּ לְעוֹלָם. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בְּבֵית בַּעְלָהּ, גּוֹבָה כְתֻבָּתָהּ עַד עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה טוֹבָה כְנֶגֶד כְּתֻבָּתָהּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בְּבֵית בַּעְלָהּ, גּוֹבָה כְתֻבָּתָהּ לְעוֹלָם. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ, גּוֹבָה כְתֻבָּתָהּ עַד עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים. מֵתָה, יוֹרְשֶׁיהָ מַזְכִּירִין כְּתֻבָּתָהּ עַד עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים: