Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18

wife should retain possession Of The
property she brought 10 him-
But We have changed all that. or most
Of il. BY statute. 80 that today IN most
OF the states the rights Of a married
woman IN her own property are as ALSO
lutte a. those Of her husband Ia his.
The husbands control Of his property
Is NOT. strictly speaking. absolute, since
IL ia subject to the debts Of his wife, to
the support Of the family. in few states
70 the debts Of the wife incurred before
marriage and in q great many 10 the
dover right
The wife's rights In her husbands
property, therefore. are generally greater
than his In hers.
The Law. holding man responsible for
the support of his wife and children, re-
CARDS the wife as the agent of the hus-
band and holds him responsible for any
debts she may contract.
In cases where man advertises that
he viii not pay his wife's debts the
courts may hold that it has no greater
force than as a warning. aud that he is
In almost every state wife's separate
property-that is. property which has
come 70 her by inheritance, or by be-
quest or devise. or by gift from any one
but her husband. or money which she
has earned. or property bought with
money acquired in any Of these ways
is not liable for her husbands personal
debts. nor is it liable for debts for the
family unless no property of the hus-
band can be found To satisfy them.
Property given TO her by her hrs-
band may be so liable if there is sus-
picion of fraud in the conveyance. OF
course if some distinction were not made
any man could avoid paying his debts by
simple process of handing his property
over TO his wife as fast as he acquired it.
The wife's property is free from the
husbands control in the sense that he
could not insist upon her selling or mort
gaging it, yet the increase and profits of
the property Interest. rents collected,
crops raised, etc. may be liable for debts
for the family support after the creditor
has exhausted his remedy against the
husband. In a few of the states such
profits form part Of what is known as
community property" and are equally
liable with the husbands property for
such debts.
In some states a husband is liable for
the anteuuptial debts of his wife. In
Tennessee he is as fully responsible for
these as for his own. In Maine, il he
voluntarily assumes payment of any Of
them. he can be sued for others. In New
Hampshire he is liable for her debts in
CURED on her own responsibility after
her majority. but not for debt incurred
while under age and living in her IA
Tiers house There are provisions sim
liar to these in few other states. but in
most of them neither husband nor wife
is liable for debts of the other prior to
the marriage.
In most OF the states the earnings of a
wife are entirely under her own con-
troll In New York she can engage in
any trade or business and carry it on
the same as il she were single, and this
holds good nearly everywhere, except
that in some states she cannot enter into
business partnership.
The earnings and profits of her bust
ness will be her independent property,
not subject to any control by her hus-
band; but all debts and liabilities in
CURED in carrying on such business will
also be her own. and not, like her per.
sonal debts and debts for the support OF
herself and children, legally chargeable
upon the husband.
In few of the states (Rhode Island
Vermont and West Virginia, for in
stance) wife cannot carry on a separate
business or trade without her husbands
consent unless he is insane or impris-
oned or has deserted her. This, however
cannot be construed as prohibition tc
earning wages.
As TO whether woman may sue hel
husband for the performance Of a con
| tract or promise made with or to heI
| there is difference Of practice in the
different states. 1t is also not settled
how far she can be held liable upon ar
Endorsement for another person.
In New Jersey and several other states
generally speaking. those in which the
right of courtesy exists, husband must
Join with his wife in deed of convey
snce. This is not required in New York
New Jersey has been very much be
hind the other states in the matter OF
making reforms Of this sort. 1t is com
paratiyely recently that married WON
an can control her own property or make
| a valid will or sue in her own name.
When any one owns real property in
several states. each parcel is subject u
the laws Of the state in which it is stu
ated. Personal property. on the othel
hand, ia subject TO the laws Of the state
/ in which the owner resides.
| A wife can insure her husbands life
for her own benefit. II is, however, Z
| little difficult TO understand what thi,
| privilege amounts TO. since it would not
be easy to find company which would
issue policy without personal appli
cation from the person insured and with
out his submitting 70 an examination
/ A wife having once induced her husband
! 70 insure bis life can. however, pay the
premiums herself If he does not. But Of
course any beneficiary can do this.
NJ HELEN FRASER LovETT.
Il
An Esempisry woman's Club