By an Act of 1891, no child under 12 years of age, of either sex, can be employed in any mine, factory or workshop.
By an Act of 1893 a married woman may carry on business in her own name, and her earnings and all property, real and personal, purchased by her with the proceeds of such earnings, is in all cases her sole and separate property and not subject to the control or disposal of her husband or liable for his debts. By another act of this year a married woman may sue and be sued in any court in her own name.
By an Act of 1895, a married woman may appoint an attorney in fact to execute any deed or other writing.
By an Act of 1899 employers are required to provide seats for female employes.
Dower and curtesy both obtain. The widower has a life interest in all his wife's real estate, whether they have had children or not. The widow has a life interest in one-third of her husband's real estate, if there are children living. If there are neither descendants nor kindred, the entire real estate of a husband or wife dying without a will goes to the survivor. If there are children living, the widow or widower has one-third of the personal property, and all of it if there are none. A homestead to the value of $1,000 is exempted for either.
If a child die possessed of property and without descendants or a will the father is heir to all of it; if he is dead, the mother inherits only an equal share with each of the remaining children. If both parents and all brothers and sisters are dead, the grandfather is the sole heir; he failing the grandmother shares equally with her surviving children.
The husband can convey his separate property without his wife's signature. The wife can not sell or encumber her separate property without her husband's consent.
The father is the legal guardian of the minor children. If a widow remarry the guardianship of the children of the first husband passes to the second, and she can not even appoint a guardian at her death. No married woman can be a guardian.
The husband is required to furnish support adequate to his property and position in life.
In 1897 the legal age of marriage for girls was raised from twelve to sixteen years.