The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1885. Married Women's Property Act

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 87, 6 January 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1885. Married Women's Property Act

Tirrs Act came into operation on tho Ist instant. Its provisions are of considerable importance, as marking an epoch of very considerable moment in tho relations of man and wife, as regards their several independance in various matters where their obligations have hitherto been mutual. The wife is now allowad to assume risks rtnd responsibilities entirely on hor own account, which shall not in any way affect the husband, as far as money matters aro concerned. She may now hold property and dispose of it by deed or will as if she wero a fetnme sole, without the intervention of a trustee. She may sue and be sued, and any damages or costs recovered against her in any action shall be payable out of her separato property, and not otherwise. She may enter into contracts, and may file her schedule if she gets into difficulties, just like a man. Every woman who marries after the commencement of this Act is entitled to hold and dispose of all her property at the time of her marriage, or which she may acquire after marriage by her trade or occupation carried on separately from her husband, or by the exercise of literary, artistic or scientific skill. If she lends her husband money, and he becomes a bankrupt, her claim against the estate as a creditor will be allowed after all the other creditor's claims have been satisfied ; the same rule to apply in the case of the husband. Tho execution of a general power by will by a married woman to make the property appointed liable for her debts. Every woman married before the commencement of the Act shall be entitled to hold and dispose of as her separate property her title to which, whether vested or contingent, shall accrue after the commencement of the Act. All deposits in stock orinfunds of whatever kind to be her separate property without the concurrence of her i husband. She may have her name | registered as a holder of st« »ek with any other person or persons not being her husband, but if she uses her husband's money fraudulently for investment, such investment, and the dividends thereof, shall be transferred and paid respectively to the husband. She may insure her own or her husband's life for her own benefit. She has in her own name, against all persons, including her husband, the same civil remedies and redress by way of criminal proceedings for the protection of her own separate property, but no husband or wife shall be entitled to sue the other for damages. No criminal proceedings shall be taken by any wife against her husband, by virtue of this Act, while they are living together, concerning any property claimed by her, nor while they are living apart, concerning any act done by her husband while they were living together, concerning any property claimed by the wife, unless such property shall hare been wrongfully taken by the husband when leaving, or about to leave, his wife. A wife doing any act with respect to any property of her husband, which, if done by the husband with respect to the property of the wife, would make the husband liable to criminal proceedings by the wife under this Act, shall in like manner be liable to criminal proceedings by her husband. Husband and wife shall be competent witnesses against each other. A woman remains liable after marriage for all debts contracted when single. A husband shall only be liable up to the amount of property acquired from his wife at the time of marriage. Of course this does not increase or diminish the liability of a husband married beforo the commencement of this Act. A husband and wife may be sued jointly in respect to any debt or liability contracted by the wife before marriage if the plaintiff shall seek to establish his claim, wholly or in part, against both of them. Disputes between husband and wife as to property are to be decided in a summary way. Nothing in this Act is to interfere with, existing settlements. Should the husband be destitute the wife shall be liable for his maintenance, and for her children and grandchildren, the same as the husband already ia. A wife may not enter into partnership, if she is living with her husband, without the consent of the husband in writing. These are the most important points in the Act.