Legal Definitions - spousal-unity doctrine

The spousal-unity doctrine is a legal rule that was followed in family law. It stated that a husband and wife were considered as one legal entity. This meant that the husband had complete control over all property and assets, and the wife had no rights to them.

For example, if a husband owned a house before marriage, the wife had no legal claim to it. If the husband sold the house, the wife had no say in the matter. This rule was in effect until the Married Women's Property Acts were passed.

In tax law, the spousal-unity rule stated that a person and their spouse were treated as one for tax purposes. This meant that their income and deductions were combined and reported on one tax return. However, this rule has been repealed.

Overall, the spousal-unity doctrine was a discriminatory rule that favored husbands and deprived wives of their legal rights. It is no longer in effect, and both spouses have equal rights to property and assets.