1690 ARTICLE 45.

ARTICLE 45.

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

1. Wife's property not liable for husband's debt. Husband may not prejudice rights of subsisting creditors by con- veyance to wife. Creditors must as- sert their claims within three years from such conveyance. 2. Rights of creditors in cases of convey- ance from husband to wife, directly or indirectly. 3. Trustee not necessary to married wo- man for security and separate use of her property. May have trustee if she desires. 4. Married women may hold property as if unmarried; same power to con- vey as husbands. 5. Married women may engage in busi- ness, contract, sue and be sued upon contracts and for torts, as if unmar- ried. 6. Rights of widow to dower in lands held by legal or equitable title by hus- band during coverture. 7. Husbands shall acquire estate for life in one-third of wife's lands; hus- band's dower. 8. Married woman may insure life of hus- band for her sole use. Husband may cause his life to be insured for wife's sole use. Such insurance to be free from all claims of husband's repre- sentatives or his creditors.

9. Policies taken out or assigned for bene- fit of wife, children or dependent relative to be free from claims of creditors of insured. 10. After wife's death, how such insurance payable. 11. Receipt of any married woman may be a valid discharge to individual or corporation making payment. 12. How husband and wife may relinquish interest or dower respectively. 13. Grant and conveyance of land where married man or woman is insane or has been absent or unheard of for seven years. 14. Husband not liable for ante-nuptial debts of wife. Liability of wife therefor as if she were unmarried. 15. Proceedings at law or in equity may be taken against wife by joining hus- band thereto as defendant. Hus- band's estate not liable. 16. Married woman may appoint attorney to act for her. 17. Landlord may levy rent by distress against a married woman, lessee, as if she were feme sole. Re-entry for non-payment of rent. 18. Married woman, as grantee or lessee of deeds of real estate or chattels real, competent to bind herself as if she were feme sole by covenant run- ning with or relating to such estate.

For forms of deeds and acknowledgments by husband and wife, see art. 21, secs. 57
and 71.

As to competency of husband or wife of accused to testify in criminal cases, see art.
35, sec. 4.

As to right of husband to sue for slander of his wife, see art. 88, sec. 4.

As to mechanics' liens on buildings erected by husband on wife's land, see art. 63,
sec. 10.

As to marriage, see art. 62.

As to prevention of wife from pledging husband's credit, see art. 16, sec. 49.