Legal Definitions - covert baron

Definition: Covert baron (pronounced kuh-vurt bar-uhn) is a term from Law French that refers to the legal status of a married woman under common law. During marriage, a woman's legal existence is suspended or combined with that of her husband. She is under his protection and influence and is called a feme-covert or covert-baron.

Example: According to William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, a married woman's condition during her marriage is called her coverture. This means that she is not considered a separate legal entity from her husband and is subject to his authority.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the term covert baron was used in the past to describe the legal status of married women. It shows that under common law, a woman's legal rights and identity were subsumed by her husband's. This meant that she could not own property, enter into contracts, or make legal decisions without her husband's permission.