Separation of Property

A separation of property is a legal division of the assets of a husband and wife. Usually it allowed a female to act independently as a feme sole and served to protect her dowry. If done during marriage it was usually to protect her assets from her husband's creditors. It does not mean the couple physically separated or divorced. Sometimes it was done after the husband's death for a similar purpose-protection of the wife's property from creditors of her husband's estate.