The true northerner., 1898-05-04

HAPPY CONDITION OF FEME SOLE IN THIS
ENLIGHTENED STATE OF MICHIGAN.

1t is reported that the "quiz" in refer
ence to the property rights of women in
Michigan. at the recent meeting of the
county W. G. T. u, held at South Ha-
ven, was very interesting, which state
ment, doubtless, was true; it could not
have been otherwise il the real facts
were made plain. In the first place an
unmarried woman, a .feme sole as she is
known in law, has all the property rights
that she would have had, had she been
SO unfortunate as to have been born a
member of the sterner sex.
Should she have been still more
fortunate, and have become a. fe1,le coUert,
i'm other words a married woman, she
loses none of her property rights by her
marriage, but, on the other hand, at once
acquires additional rights that can never
be enjoyed by her less favored husband
nor by her spinster sister, until she shall
cease to be a spinster and join herself,
for better or for worse, to some unregen-
crate son of Adam.
For instance, woman, at her mar
riage becomes atonce entitled to a dover
right in all the real estate of which her
husband may die seized, whether such
realty was obtained prior to such mar
riage or subsequent thereto, and this
right can only be barred by her own vol
untary act, but the husband possesses no
corresponding right in the estate of his
deceased wife.
Out of the estate of deceased husband
the widow is permitted by law to have
all his wearing apparel, ornaments and
household furniture to the value of $3.50,
and also $500 worth of other personal
property, and this without regard to the
husbands debts, but no corresponding
allowance is made To the husband out of
the estate of his deceased wife, no matter
how valuable such estate may be. The
probate court is authorized to make pro-
vision out of deceased husbands estate
for the support of his widow, but though
a husband should die of starvation, the
court could not make similar provisions
for his support from his deceased wife's
estate.
In case the husband shall desert his
wife, or in case of pending suit for
divorce between the husband and wife,
the court can decree to the woman such
sum or sums as alimony, as to such court
may seem right and just, and when de-
cree of divorce is granted, the court may
decree permanent alimony to the wife
and make the same lien on his real
estate if need be, but if the wife were as
as wealthy as Crpsus and the husband as
poor as the traditional church mouse, no
court could decree alimony to him, either
temporary or permanent.
Under the laws of Michigan, both the
real and personal estate of a married
woman, whether acquired before mar
riage or afterward, remains her sole
estate and property, and is never liable
for the debts of her husband and may
be disposed of by her the same as though
she were unmarried, and this without the
consent of her husband: it makes no
difference whether he is pleased or
whether he is not. The parties may re-
side on lands belonging to the wife as a
homestead, yet she can dispose of the
same according to her own sweet will,
regardless of her husbands wishes. On
the other hand, a married man is liable
for debts contracted by his wife, and he
cannot convey full title to any of his
realty unless his wife joins with him in
the deed, and every conveyance of a
homestead made by the husband, ex-
cept mortgage for purchase money, is
absolutely void unless the wife joins in
such conveyance.
A married woman may sign a note with
her husband as surety, but it cannot be
enforced against her, no matter how
wealthy she may be, but let a husband
become surety for his wife and the courts
will enforce the claim against him, even
to the last dollar he may have beyond
that which is exempt from execution. A
married woman may make contracts re-
lating to her own property Just as if she
were feDae sole, or the same as if she
were of the male persuasion. She may
even enter into contract relations with
her own husband and the courts will en-
force the contract against him. No pro-
perty, except such as the constitution it
self exempts, is exempt from levy
and sale under any execution issued up
on judgment for sum not exceeding
twenty five dollars, for labor or services
performed by woman and she is entitled
to tax an attorney fee of five dollars in
addition to such judgment, but no such
beneficent statute has been enacted for
the benefit of laborers of the sterner
sex.
The foregoing are some of the advan-
tages, as far as property rights are con-
cerned, enjoyed by Michigan women and
not possessed by their less fortunate
brothers. And it will not do to say that
these provisions of law are of little use
because the great bulk of the property
of the state is in the hands of the men.
1t requires but a casual inspection of the
records of this county, and it is not likely
to be very different in other counties, to
show that the title to large portion of
landed property is in the women.
1t pays to be woman in this enlight-
ened state of Michigan.