Legal Definitions - husband–wife privilege

Definition: Husband-Wife Privilege is a legal right that allows spouses to refuse to testify against each other in court and to prevent others from testifying about confidentialcommunications made between them during their marriage. It falls under the category of marital privilege.

Example: If a husband and wife are involved in a criminal case, the husband cannot be forced to testify against his wife, and vice versa. For instance, if the husband is accused of stealing money from a bank, his wife cannot be compelled to testify about any conversations they had regarding the theft during their marriage.

Explanation: The husband-wife privilege is based on the idea that spouses should be able to communicate freely and honestly with each other without fear of their conversations being used against them in court. This privilege only applies to confidential communications made during the marriage and does not extend to any criminal activity that occurred before or after the marriage. The purpose of this privilege is to protect the sanctity of the marital relationship and encourage open communication between spouses.