This bill amends the 1981 PA 216, which addresses the rights and liabilities of married women concerning real and personal property. Key changes include affirming that property acquired by a woman before or during marriage remains her separate property, and she retains the right to manage it as if she were unmarried. The language has been updated to replace "husband" with "spouse" throughout the bill, reflecting a more inclusive understanding of marriage. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a married woman is personally liable for contracts related to her separate property, and her spouse is not liable for those contracts unless they acted as a surety or co-signer.

The bill also allows married women to act as sureties for debts, including those of their spouses, and to pledge their separate property as security for such debts. It specifies that judgments against a married woman as a surety can be satisfied from her separate property, regardless of whether that property benefits from the suretyship. The amendments aim to enhance the legal standing of married women in property matters and ensure their rights are clearly defined and protected under the law.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 557.21