Chap. 25.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 5134 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to rights of married women. , [S B71]

Approved February 16, 1932

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
fifty-one hundred and thirty-four of the Code of Virginia be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 5134. A married woman shall have the right to acquire,
hold, use, control, and dispose of property, as if she were unmarried,
and such power of use, control and disposition shall apply to all prop-
erty of a married woman which has been acquired by her since April
fourth, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, or shall be hereafter ac-
quired ; provided, however, that her husband shall be entitled to curt-
esy in her real estate other than her equitable separate estate when the
requisites therefor exist, and he shall not be deprived thereof by her
sole act; but neither his right to curtesy nor his marital rights shall
entitle him to the possession or use, or to the rents, issues, and profits
of said real estate during the coverture; nor shall the property of the
wife be subject to the debts or liabilities of the husband. A married
woman may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, in the
same manner and with the same consequences as if she were unmar-
ried, whether the right or liability asserted by or against her shall
have accrued heretofore or hereafter. In an action by a married
woman to recover for a personal injury inflicted on her, she may re-
cover the-entire damage sustained including the personal injury, ex-
penses arising out of the injury (whether chargeable to her or her
husband) notwithstanding the husband may be entitled to the benefit
of her services about domestic affairs and consortium; and no action
for such injury, expenses, or loss of services or consortium shall be
maintained by the husband. A husband shall not be responsible for
any contract, liability, or tort of his wife, whether the contract or lia-
bility was incurred or the tort was committeed before or after marriage.