GEORGIA.

All property of the wife at the time of her marriage, and all acquired by her during coverture is her separate property, and is not liable for the debts, defaults, or contracts of her husband. She may contract, sue, and be sued in her own name as though unmarried, in all matters relating to her separate estate. She cannot bind her separate estate by any contract of suretyship for her husband or any assumption of his debts, and cannot sell to her husband except by order of court. The husband is bound to support the wife, and she is presumed to be his agent in all purchases of necessaries suitable to her station in life. The wife's separate property is not liable for debts contracted by her as agent for the husband in the purchase of necessaries for herself and children, but is liable for debts contracted by her individually for such support. A woman may contract marriage or make a will at fourteen; for other purposes she becomes of age at twenty-one. Dower is allowed only in lands which husband owned at his decease, or to which he obtained title in right of his wife. She may elect to take a child's portion in lieu of dower.

IDAHO.

All property, real and personal, owned by the husband and wife respectively before the marriage, and that subsequently acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent, or that acquired with proceeds of separate property, is separate property. The wife mav sign, acknowledge, and have recorded a complete inventory of her separate personal property in the county where the parties reside, which is prima facie evidence of her title. She has the full

management, control, and power to dispose of her separate property and may enter into a contract in reference to it, in the same manner and with like effect as a married man, and may sue or be sued in the same manner as if single. Her separate property is not liable for her husband's debts. All other property acquired by either party after marriage is common property. The husband has the entire management and control of the common property, except the homestead, with the same power of disposition as of his own separate estate. The rents and profits of all separate property of both husband and wife are deemed common property, unless it is otherwise provided in the instrument of devise. On the dissolution of the community by the death of the husband, half of the common property goes to the widow, and half to descendants, if any; if not, all to the widow. On the death of the wife, the entire common property goes to the husband. On dissolution by decree of court, the common property is equally divided, unless, in case of adultery or extreme cruelty, the court otherwise orders. She may dispose of all her separate property, real and personal, by will. Curtesy and dower are abolished.

ILLINOIS.

In ILLINOIS, a married woman may own, in her own right, real and personal property obtained by descent, gift, or purchase, and manage, sell, and convey the same to the same extent and in the same manner that the husband can property belonging to him. Neither husband nor wife shall be liable for

the debts of the other contracted before marriage, nor for the separate debts of each other. Contracts may be made and liabilities incurred by a wife, and the same enforced against her, to the same extent and in the same manner as if she were unmarried; but she cannot enter into or carry on a partnership without the consent of her husband, unless he has abandoned her, or is idiotic or insane, or in the penitentiary. She may sue and be sued alone, as if she were unmarried. Neither he nor she can recover any compensation for any labor performed or services rendered for the other. Provisions are made for the protection and support of the wife in case of her abandonment by the husband. By another act, tenancy by the curtesy is abolished, and husband and wife are put on the same footing as to dower. Married woman may sue alone in regard to her separate property, and when the suit is between husband and wife; may be executrix if her husband file his consent. She may make a will. She attains majority at eighteen.

INDIANA.

In INDIANA, a married woman holds her real and personal property and all the income therefrom absolutely as her separate property, free from liability for the debts of the husband, but she cannot sell or encumber her real estate unless the husband join in the conveyance. She may dispose of her separate personal property as if unmarried; may carry on any trade or business, and her earnings and profits therein are her separate property; and may enter into any contract in reference to her separate personal estate or business, or the management and improvement of her separate real estate, and may sue or be sued thereon. The husband is not liable for debts contracted in her separate business. Curtesy and dower are abolished. As against creditors, widow takes five hundred dollars in goods or money and one-third of real estate in fee if it does not exceed ten thousand dollars, one-fourth if it does not exceed twenty thousand, and one-fifth if it exceeds that amount. As against relatives, she takes five hundred dollars in goods or money, and onethird of real and personal property if two or more children survive; onehalf if one child survive. If no children, but one of husband's parents survives, she takes the whole estate if under one thousand dollars, otherwise three-fourths. If neither children nor husband's parents survive she takes the whole. There are special provisions regarding second marriages. Married woman may make a will, and is eligible for certain public offices. A woman attains majority at twenty-one but may marry at sixteen.

IOWA.

In Iowa, a married woman owns in her own right all property, real or personal, which came to her by descent, gift, or purchase, and may manage, dispose of, and devise the same by will without the interference of her husband. Neither the husband nor wife is liable for the debts or contracts of the other, made or incurred before marriage or after. For all civil injuries by the wife, damages may be recovered from her alone. In case of abandonment of either by the other, the party abandoned may petition the court, who may, on sufficient proof of the facts, authorize the petitioner to manage or encumber the property of the abandoning party for the support

of the family. Each may constitute the other his or her attorney in fact. She may sue for and recover wages for her personal services, and hold what she recovers as her own property. She may make contracts and incur liabilities in the same manner as if unmarried. The husband is not liable upon contracts relative to his wife's separate property or purporting to bind herself alone, nor is the property or income of either liable for the debts of the other. Family expenses, education of children, etc., are chargeable upon the property of both or either, and on such claims they may be sued jointly or separately. If both are sued jointly the wife may defend for her own right or for her husband's also. Neither husband nor wife can remove the other or their children from the homestead without his or her consent. A married woman may receive gifts or grants directly from her husband. Dower and curtesy are abolished. The survivor, whether husband or wife, has one-third in value of all real estate owned by the other at any time during the marriage unless the right has been relinquished by a joint deed or the property sold on execution. She attains majority at eighteen or on marriage.

KANSAS.

In KANSAS, the property, real or personal, of a married woman, owned at the time of her marriage, or subsequently received, is her sole and separate property, not subject to the disposal of her husband, nor liable for his debts. She may sell and convey or enter into any contract relating thereunto, and may sue and be sued in the same manner and with like effect as a married man. She cannot bequeath more than half of her property away from her husband without his' written consent. If either die intestate and without issue, all his or her property goes to the survivor. If a husband deprive his wife by will of more than half his property, she may elect to accept the conditions of his will, or take half of his property. Dower and curtesy are abolished. She may carry on trade, and her earnings are her separate property. She attains majority at 18.

KENTUCKY.

Marriage gives the husband no interest in the wife's property, real or ersonal, during her life. During the existence of the marriage relation she holds all her property for her separate and exclusive use, free from any debts, liability, or control of her husband. Her estate is not liable upon a contract after marriage to answer for the debts or defaults of another, including her husband, unless such contract be in writing in the nature of a mortgage, but is liable for her own debts. She may acquire and hold property, real or personal, and may dispose of her personal property in her own name, as though unmarried. She may make contracts and sue and be sued as a single woman — except that she cannot make an executory contract to convey real estate unless her husband join. She may rent out her real estate and receive and recover the rents in her own name. A gift or transfer of personal property between husband and wife must be recorded like a chattel mortgage. Husband and wife may sell and convey her land and chattels real. If he abandon her without making sufficient provision for her support, or if he become insane, or be imprisoned for more than one year, she may be empowered to sell and convey her real estate freed from any claim by him.

On the death of either husband or wife the survivor has a life estate in onethird of any real estate held by the other during coverture, unless the right has been barred or released, and an absolute estate in one-half of the personal property left by the deceased, after payment of debts. A married woman, twenty-one years of age, may dispose of her estate by will, subject to the rights of her husband as above stated.

LOUISIANA.

In LOUISIANA, the wife cannot appear in court without the authority of her husband, though she may be a public merchant, or hold her property separate from him. Even then, she cannot alienate, mortgage, or acquire by gratuitous or unencumbered title without his written consent. She may be authorized by the judge of probate upon his refusal, and, if separated from bed and board, has no need of the authorization of her husband. If a public merchant, she may, without being empowered by him, obligate herself in anything relating to her trade; her husband is also bound, if there is a community of property. She is considered a public merchant if she carries on a separate trade, but not if she retails only the merchandise of the commerce carried on by him. If the husband is under interdiction, or absent, the judge may authorize her to act as if unmarried. She may make a will without his authority. But she cannot become an executrix without his consent or the court's. She may act as a mandatory. Neither party can be a witness for or against the other. They may, by marriage contract, determine the rights of property, but cannot change the legal order of descents, nor derogate from the husband's rights over the person of his wife and children, or as head of the family, nor with respect to children if he survive the wife, nor from the prohibitory dispensations of the Code. The property of married persons is divided into "separate" and "common"; and the separate property of the wife into "dotal" and "extra-dotal," or "paraphernal." The "dotal" is that which the wife brings to the husband to assist him in bearing the expenses of the marriage establishment. Full provisions exist as to the settlement, administration, recovery, subject-matter, etc., of dowry, and the rights of both parties therein, and as to the administration, fruits, etc., of the extra-dotal effects. The wife has a legal mortgage on her husband's immovables, for the restitution of her dower, which he may release by giving a special mortgage to the satisfaction of a family meeting, etc., or in accordance with stipulations in the marriage contract; but it shall not be lawful to stipulate that no mortgage shall exist. This mortgage must be recorded to avail against third persons. A partnership, or community, of acquests or gains exists by operation of law in all cases. But the parties may modify or limit it, or agree that it shall not exist; in which case there are provisions preserving to the wife the administration and enjoyment of her property, and the power of alienating it as if paraphernal, with reference to the expenses of the marriage and liability of the husband. This community consists of the profits of all the effects of which the husband has the administration and enjoyment, either of right or in fact, of the produce of the reciprocal industry and labor of both husband and wife, and of the estates which they may acquire during marriage, either by donations made jointly to them both, or by purchase, or in any similar way, even though the purchase be in the name of one, and not of both. Debts contracted during marriage enter into this partnership, and must be acquitted out of the common fund; but those contracted before marriage, out of individual effects. The husband

is the head and master of the community, administers its effects, disposes of the revenue, and may alienate by an unencumbered title, without the wife's consent. There are special provisions as to conveyances and dispositions of the community property and gains; effect of dissolution of marriage; ability of the wife to exonerate herself from debts contracted during marriage by renouncing the partnership; effect of such renunciation; death; survivorship; separation a mensa et thoro; separation of property during coverture; rights of creditors, etc. Either party, by marriage contract or during marriage, may give to the other all he or she might give to a stranger. Property acquired in the State by non-resident married persons, whether the title is in the name of either or in their joint names, is subject to the same provisions as if owned by citizens of the State. If husband or wife die intestate, without ascendants or descendants, his or her share in the community property is held by the survivor in usufruct for life; if the deceased intestate leave issue of the marriage, the survivor holds such issue's inheritance in usufruct till death or second marriage. Wife may petition for separation of property when her husband's affairs are in such a state that her interests are in danger. She may keep a bank account as though unmarried.

MAINE.

In MAINE, a married woman holds as her separate property whatever she possessed before marriage, and whatever comes to her after marriage, unless purchased by the husband's money or coming from him so as to defraud his creditors, and has all the usual rights of a single woman as to it, but cannot convey property received through the husband or his relatives unless he join. Her property alone is liable for her debts before marriage. Real estate may be conveyed to a wife by her husband as security for a bona fide debt, and this may be conveyed by her without his being joined in the deed. Letters of administration may be granted on her estate, and all debts contracted for her benefit shall be paid by her executor and allowed him. She may engage in trade on her own account, and any contract made by her is valid, and her property is liable to execution for her debts; his property is exempt in any such case unless he were a party to the contract. Her husband is not liable for her torts. If he abandon her and leave the state without providing for her maintenance, or be confined in the state prison, she may be authorized by the court to make contracts binding on him as well as herself. Dower and curtesy are abolished. Survivor is entitled to one-third of real estate except wild lands, if there are children— to one-half if none—and the same as to lands owned during coverture unless right has been released. Personal property aside from allowances to widow passes to the survivor in the same proportions. A woman over eighteen may marry without consent of parent or guardian.

MARYLAND.

In MARYLAND, the property of a married woman, real and personal, whether acquired before marriage or after, is her separate property, and not liable for the debts of the husband; but no conveyance made to her by her husband in fraud of creditors is valid. Her personal earnings and the income thereof belong to her. She may engage in any business, may form a partnership with her husband or other person, make contracts, and sue and be sued in all matters relating to her business or property as though unmarried. She may dispose of her property, real and personal, by deed, mortgage, lease, will, or other instrument, but if under eighteen her husband must join. She may release dower by a separate deed, or jointly with her husband. She may insure her husband's life and on his death may receive the amount of insurance free from any claim of his legal representatives or