Chapter XXIII. *regulating the Rights of Property of Married Women in the District of Columbia*
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/statutes-at-large/vol-16/chapter-xxiii-192546·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. XXIII.— An Act *regulating the Rights of Property of Married Women in the District of Columbia*. April 10, 1869. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Right of married women to property in the District of Columbia; That in the District of Columbia the right of any married woman to any property, personal or real, belonging to her at the time of marriage, or acquired during marriage in any other way than by gift or conveyance from her husband, shall be as absolute as if she were femme sole, and shall not be subject to the disposal of her husband, nor be liable for his debts ; but such marrieddisposition thereof. woman may convey, devise, and bequeath the same, or any interest therein, in the same manner and with like effect as if she were unmarried.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted*, That any married woman may contract,Married woman may contract, sue and be sued, &c. and sue and be sued in her own name, in all matters having relation to her sole and separate property in the same manner as if she were unmarried ; but neither her husband nor his property shall be bound by any such contract nor liable for any recovery against her in any suchHusband and his property not bound. suit, but judgment may be enforced by execution against her sole and separate estate in the same manner as if she were sole.
Approved, April 10, 1869.