The laws of inheritance are the same for husband and wife. Dower and curtesy are abolished. The surviving husband or wife is entitled to one-third in fee simple of both real and personal estate of the other at his or her death. If either die intestate, leaving no issue, one-half of the estate goes to the survivor, the rest to his or her parents, one or both; or if they are both dead, to their descendants. If there are none such, the whole estate goes to the surviving husband or wife. If there should have been more than one wife or husband, the half portion is equally divided between the husband or wife living and the heirs of those who are dead, or the heirs of all, if all are dead.
A married woman may contract, sue and be sued and carry on business in her own name as if unmarried and her earnings are her sole and separate property.
In 1896 an act was passed making it illegal for the husband to mortgage household goods without the wife's signature. The same year it was made a misdemeanor and punishable as such for a man to desert a woman whom he married to escape prosecution for seduction.
The law declares the father and mother natural guardians and legally entitled to the custody of the minor children, but in practice the father has prior claim.
The support and education of the family are chargeable equally on the husband's and the wife's property.
In 1886 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 13 years; and in 1896, on petition of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, from 13 to 15 years. The penalty is imprisonment in the penitentiary for life or for any term of years not less than twenty. An amendment was made in 1894 that "a man can not be convicted upon the testimony of the person injured unless she be corroborated by other evidence."
The same year this organization secured a law compelling the separation of men and women prisoners in county jails.
Suffrage: Since 1894 the right of any citizen to vote at any city, town or school election, on the question of issuing any bonds for municipal or school purposes, and for the purpose of borrowing money, or on the question of increasing the tax levy, shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.
At all elections where women may vote, no registration of women shall be required, separate ballots shall be furnished for the question on which they are entitled to vote, a separate ballot-box shall be provided in which all ballots cast by them shall be deposited, and a separate canvass thereof made by the judges of the election, and the returns thereof shall show such vote.
Office Holding: Women are not forbidden by law to hold any office except that of legislator.