The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-19
WOmen's Rights in Law.

In Maine a married woman may
become possessed of real or personal
property by bequest, demise, gift or
purchase, in her own name and as her
own property. After marriage she
still retains the custody of the proper
ty owned by her before marriage, and
the same is exempt from liability for
the debts of the husband. She may sue
in her own name to recover back her
separate property. In the event of her
death without will, her property, real
and personal, descends to her heirs
In New Hampshire married woman
can hold property in her own name,
may make contracts, sue and be sued,
and can dispose of her property by will,
and, in case of her death without will,
her husband is excluded from any share
in her estate.
In Vermont married woman is en-
titled to the same rights of property as
in New Hampshire.
In Massachusetts married woman
may hold property separate from her
husband without the Intervention of a
trustee A deed conveying land to a
married woman must be recorded with
in ninety days of its delivery or the
land will be liable for the husband 5
debts. Any married woman over TWEEN
ty-One years of age may dispose OF her
property by will provided her husband S
consent is Endorsed on the will in writ
ing. If the devise is to her husband,
his consent is not necessary.
In Rhode Island married woman is
entitled to her separate estate, which is
not liable for her husbands debts, nor
can he control the use of it. She may
dispose of it by will in the presence of
three subscribing witnesses.
In Connecticut the wife is entitled to
her separate estate which she owned
before marriage. The proceeds of any
property granted to her after marriage
is held by the husband as trustee for
her and her children, and his executors
must account for the same. With the
consent of her husband she may dispose
of her property by will, which must be
signed in the presence of three wit
neSSeS.
In New York married woman has
absolute control of her separate estate,
and is entitled to demand conveyance
of any property held in trust for her,
provided she has fee-simple estate in
the same. She has right to deposit
money in bank in her own name, and
draw out the same by check.
In New Jersey the separate property
of the wife is not liable for the debts of
the husband.
In Pennsylvania the separate proper
ty of any married woman, owned by
her before marriage, or which she has
become the owner of after marriage, is
free from any liability except for her
own debts, and then not until the cred
itor fails to obtain the amount of debt
from the husband estate. If, however,
Judgment is obtained against the hus-
band for the wrongful act of the wife,
the creditor must first exhaust the
wife's separate property before he can
levy on the husbands.
In Delaware the wife's property is
liable for the debts of the husband, I'M
less certain legal proceedings are taken
to prevent such liability.
In Maryland the wife's property, by
late enactment, is protected from levy
and sale for debts of her husband. She
may make will with the consent of
her husband subscribed to it.
By the law of Virginia a married
woman's property is subject to the debts
of her husband.
By the law of West Virginia the sepa-
rate estate of the wife is not response
BILE for any but her own debts.
In North Carolina woman's separate
estate is not liable for the debts of her
husband. Wills must be written, signed
by him or some person in his presence
at his request, and shall be subscribed
by two witnesses present.
In South Carolina married women
have no right of property, unless con-
ferred upon them by ante-nuptial settle
ment.
In Georgia the lands and personal
property of the wife become the prop