6 Neb. 260 | Neb. | 1877
Section one of the act “respecting the rights of married women,” approved March 1, 1871, provides that: “The property, real and personal, which any woman in this state may own at the time of her marriage, and the rents, issues, profits, or proceeds thereof, and any real, personal, or mixed property which came to her by descent, devise, or bequest, or the gift of any person except her husband, shall remain her sole and separate property, notwithstanding her marriage, and shall not be subject to the disposal of her husband, or. liable for his debts.”
In 1875 this section was amended by adding after the word “ husband,” in the sixth line, the words “ or she shall acquire by purchase or otherwise.”
At common law those chattels which formerly belonged to the wife are by act of law vested in the husband, with the same degree of property'and with the same powers as the wife, when sole, had over them.” This depends entirely on the notion of a unity of person between the husband and wife, it being held that they are one person in law, so that the very being and existence of the woman is suspended during the coverture, or entirely merged or incorporated in that of the husband. And hence it follows, that whatever personal property belonged to the wife before marriage is by marriage absolutely vested in the husband. In a real estate, he only gains a title to the rents and profits during the coverture; for that, depending upon feudal prin
The common law in respect to the rights of husband and wife is in force in this state, except so far as it has been changed by statute. The second section of the act “ respecting the rights of married women ” provides that: “ A married woman, while the marriage relation subsists, may bargain, sell, and convey her real and personal property, and enter into any contract with reference to the same, in the same manner, to the same extent, and with like effect, as a married man may in relation to his real and personal property.”
By the common law neither the husband nor wife could convey lands to each other. And our law still regards them in relation to each other as one person, notwithstanding the statute enlarging the rights of the wife. Fowler v. Trebein, 16 O. S., 498. White v. Wager, 25 N. Y., 328. Winans v. Peebles, 32 N. Y., 423.
The conveyance which Obermeyer attempted to make directly to his wife in law was absolutely void. Where it is apparent that such a deed has been made, in pursuance of a valid ante-nuptial agreement or upon a sufficient consideration, it might be sustained in equity. But in this case, if we take the most favorable view of the evidence possible for the defendants, that the money in question was derived from the 'sale of lands owned by the wife, still it is clearly shown that in the year 1870 the
Decree accordingly.