Legal Definitions - wife's settlement

Definition: A wife's equitable right, which arises when her husband sues in equity to reduce her equitable estate to his own possession. This right allows her to have all or part of that estate settled upon herself and her children. It is also known as wife's equity or wife's settlement.

Example: If a husband sues in equity to reduce his wife's equitable estate to his own possession, she may claim her wife's settlement. For instance, if the wife owns a property, the husband may sue to have it transferred to his name. However, the wife can claim her equitable right to have a portion of the property settled upon herself and her children.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a wife's settlement works in practice. If a husband tries to take possession of his wife's property, she can claim her equitable right to have a portion of it settled upon herself and her children. This ensures that the wife and her children are not left without any financial support in case of a divorce or separation.