Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-04-21
An Act for the proroctlon Of VVomon

An Act for Rhe proroctIon Of Women.
Be ig enacted 6y tke State and House Of Repre
seHtafipes Of the State Of Deiasodre ia Genera
Assenlblg met
SRcrToN l. That the real and personal property
Of any female, who may hereafter marry and
which abe shall own at the time Of her marriage.
or that any female now married may receive b.
gift, grant, devise or bequest, from any person
other than her kssband, shall be her sole andsep-
arate property, and Che rents, issues and profits
thereof shall not be subject to the disposal Of her
husband, nor liable for his debts t- -f
SECTION 2. That all debts contracted before
marriage by the wife, or by her authority after
marriage, shall be . charge on her real and per
sOnal propsEty, and q Judgment therefore may be
recovered against her in her name -
5RcTToN 5. That any married woman may re.
celVe the wages OF her personal labor not per-
formed for (hsrl family; maintain an action there
fore IN her own name, and hol1 them in her own
right against her husband or any other person:
she may deposit the same or any other money b.
longing to her in her own nams in any bank
savings bank, OF other institution for the safe
Keeping OF money, subject to her sole right and
authority to withdraw the same, in whole or in
part, at any time, without the consent Of her hus-
band; and upon the payment to her by any bank,
Swings bank or other institution for the safe
keeping Of money, Of any mouies 80 deposited.
they shall be exOnerated from any further liability
therefore. @F &
SECTION 4. That any married woman may pros
eeuee ana defend suits at law or in equity for the
preservation and protection Of her property, as Il
unmarried, or may do il jointly with her husband:
but he alone cannot maintain an action respecting
his Wifes property; and L shall BE- lawful for any
married woman to make any aud AL manner Of
contracts a. though the party making tham was
femme sole. fob
SECTION s. That any married woman Of the age
Of twenty-On0 yeaFs and upwards may, with the
written consent Of her husband. given under his
hand and seal in the presence OF two Witnesses
dispose OF her property, both real and psrBonal,
BY will; but such disposal shall not effect the
rights Of her husband ~ tenant by the curtesy,
and II she die intestate, her property, both real
and personal, shall descend to her heirs as now
provided BY law, and administration and distrtbu-
ti0n shall take place accordingly; but q husband
and vile by q marriage contract, executed N the
presence sf two witnesses before marriage, may
determine what rights each shall have in the
othe estate during marriage, and aftet its disso-
luton by death. and may barr each other Of ali
rights in their respective estates not secured TO
them, and if any married woman shall die intes-
tate without having any lawful issue, then and in
that case her husband shall 10 entitled to hold
half part Of all her real estate, alter the payment
Of all her just debts, for and during the term OF
his natural life.
SRcTTON 6. That any married woman may re-
lease to her husband the right TO control her prop
erty, or any pait Of il, and TO dispose OF the in
comes thereof for their mutual benefit, and may
in writing reVeIss the same.
SECTION Z. That all acts and parts of acts in.
consistent with this act be, and they are hereby
repealed