PART VI
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF HUSBAND AND WIFE
Gifts by husband to wife
55. —(1) Nothing in this Part shall give validity, as against creditors of the husband, to any gift by a husband to his wife of any property which, after such gift, continues to be in the order and disposition or reputed ownership of the husband, or to any deposit or other investment of moneys of the husband made by or in the name of his wife in fraud of his creditors.
(2) Any money deposited or invested in the manner referred to in subsection (1) may be followed as if this Act had not been passed.
Remedies of married woman for protection and security of property
56. —(1) Every married woman shall have in her own name against all persons whomsoever, including her husband, the same civil remedies and also, subject as regards her husband to subsection (3), the same remedies and redress by way of criminal proceedings for the protection and security of her own property as if that property belonged to her as a feme sole.[9/67]
(2) In any charge or other proceeding under this section, it shall be sufficient to allege that property to be her property.
(3) No criminal proceedings shall be taken against a husband or wife while they are living together as to or concerning any property claimed by her or him respectively nor while they are living apart as to or concerning any act done by the husband or wife while they were living together concerning property claimed by the wife or husband respectively unless that property has been wrongly taken by the husband or wife when leaving or deserting or about to leave or desert the wife or husband respectively.[9/67]
(4) In any action or proceeding by a woman or by a next friend on her behalf, the court before which that action or proceeding is pending shall have jurisdiction by judgment or order to order payment of the costs of the opposite party out of property which is subject to a restraint on anticipation, and may enforce such payment by the appointment of a receiver and the sale of the property or otherwise as is just.
Wife"s antenuptial debts and liabilities
57. —(1) A woman after her marriage shall continue to be liable for all debts contracted and all contracts entered into or wrongs committed by her before her marriage, including any sums for which she is liable as a contributory, either before or after she has been placed on the list of contributories under and by virtue of the Companies Act (Cap. 50).[9/67]
(2) A woman referred to in subsection (1) may be sued for any such debt and for any liability in damages or otherwise under any such contract or in respect of any such wrong.
Actions in tort between husband and wife
58. —(1) Subject to this section, each of the parties to a marriage shall have the like right of action in tort against the other as if they were not married.[9/67]
(2) Where an action in tort is brought by one of the parties to a marriage against the other during the subsistence of the marriage, the court may stay the action if it appears —
(a) that no substantial benefit would accrue to either party from the continuation of the proceedings; or
(b) that the question or questions in issue could more conveniently be disposed of on an application made under section 59.[9/67]
(3) Without prejudice to subsection (2)(b), the court may, in such an action, either exercise any power which could be exercised on an application under section 59, or give such directions as it thinks fit for the disposal under that section of any question arising in the proceedings.[9/67]
Questions between husband and wife as to property to be decided in summary way
59. —(1) In any question between husband and wife as to the title to or possession of property, either party may apply by summons or otherwise in a summary way to any Judge of the High Court, and the Judge may make such order with respect to the property in dispute and as to the costs of and consequent on the application as he thinks fit, or may direct the application to stand over, and any inquiry touching the matters in question to be made in such manner as he thinks fit.[16/93]
(2) Any order made under this section shall be subject to appeal in the same way as an order made by the same Judge in an action pending in the High Court.
(3) The Judge may, if either party so requires, hear any such application in his chambers.
(4) An application may be made under this section by either of the parties to a marriage notwithstanding that their marriage has been dissolved or annulled so long as the application is made within the period of 3 years beginning with the date on which the marriage was dissolved or annulled.
(5) References in this section to a husband or a wife shall be construed accordingly.[26/80]
Married woman as an executrix or trustee
60. A married woman who is an executrix or administratrix, alone or jointly with any other person or persons, of the estate of any deceased person, or a trustee alone or jointly as aforesaid of property subject to any trust, may sue or be sued, and may transfer or join in transferring any movable or immovable property belonging to the estate or trust without her husband as if she were a feme sole.
Saving of existing settlements and power to make future settlements
61. —(1) Nothing in this Part shall interfere with or affect any settlement or agreement for a settlement made or to be made, whether before or after marriage, respecting the property of any married woman, or shall interfere with or render inoperative any restriction against anticipation at present attached or to be hereafter attached to the enjoyment of any property or income by a woman under any settlement, agreement for a settlement, will or other instrument.
(2) No restriction against anticipation contained in any settlement or agreement for a settlement of a woman"s own property, to be made or entered into by herself, shall have any validity against debts contracted by her before marriage, and no settlement or agreement for a settlement shall have any greater force or validity against creditors of that woman than a like settlement or agreement for a settlement made or entered into by a man would have against his creditors.
Legal representative of married woman
62. For the purposes of this Part, the legal personal representative of any married woman shall, in respect of her estate, have the same rights and liabilities as she would have, and be subject to the same jurisdiction as she would be, if she were living.
[9/67]
Liability for breach of trust
63. The provisions of this Part as to liabilities of married women shall extend to all liabilities by reason of any breach of trust or devastavit committed by any married woman being a trustee or an executrix or administratrix either before or after her marriage, and her husband shall not be subject to those liabilities unless he has acted or intermeddled in the trust or administration.