COVERTUR

1 definition found

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  COVERTURE. The state or condition of a married woman.
       2. During coverture, the being of the wife is civilly merged, for many 
  purposes, into that of her husband; she can, therefore, in general, make no 
  contracts without his consent, express or implied. Com. Dig. Baron and Feme, 
  W; Pleader, 2 A 1; 1 Ch. Pl. 19, 45; Litt. s. 28; Chit. Contr. 39; 1 Bouv. 
  Inst. n. 276. 


       3. To this rule there are some exceptions: she may contract, when it is 
  for her benefit, as to save her from starvation. Chit. Contr. 40. 
       4. In some cases, when coercion has been used by the husband to induce 
  her to commit crime, she is exempted from punishment. 1 Ha1e, P. C. 516;  1 
  Russ. Cr. 16.