curtesy (k[schwa]r-t[schwa]-see). At common law, a husband’s right, upon his wife’s death, to a life estate in the land that his wife owned during their marriage, assuming that a child was born alive to the couple. • This right has been largely abolished. Traditionally, the full phrase was estate by the curtesy of England (or […]
privignus (prI-vig-n[schwa]s). [Latin] Roman & civil law. A son of one’s husband or wife by a previous marriage; a stepson.
collusion (k[schwa]-loo-zh[schwa]n), n. 1. An agreement to defraud another or to do or obtain something forbidden by law. [Cases: Fraud 30.] 2. As a defense to divorce, an agreement between a husband and wife to commit or to appear to commit an act that is grounds for divorce. • For example, before the advent of
et uxor (et [schwa]k-sor). [Latin] Archaic. And wife. • This phrase was formerly common in case names and legal documents (esp. abstracts of title) involving a husband and wife jointly. It usu. appears in its abbreviated form, et ux. (conveyed the land to Donald Baird et ux.). See UXOR.
marital, adj. Of or relating to the marriage relationship (marital property). [Cases: Divorce 248; Husband and Wife 1–354. C.J.S. Divorce §§ 508–511, 580–582; Estates § 19.]
The combined income of a husband and wife who file a joint tax return. [Cases: Internal Revenue 3566.1, 4481. C.J.S. Internal Revenue §§ 335, 366, 637.]
consortium (k[schwa]n-sor-shee-[schwa]m). 1. The benefits that one person, esp. a spouse, is entitled to receive from another, including companionship, cooperation, affection, aid, financial support, and (between spouses) sexual relations (a claim for loss of consortium). See LOSS OF CONSORTIUM; CONJUGAL RIGHTS . filial consortium (fil-ee-[schwa]l). A child’s society, affection, and companionship given to a parent.
lady’s friend. Hist. The title of an officer in the English House of Commons, whose duty was to secure a suitable provision for a wife when her husband sought a parliamentary divorce. • In 1857, parliamentary divorces and the office of lady’s friend were abolished by statute.
vir (veer), n. [Latin] 1. An adult male; a man. 2. A husband. • In the Latin phrases and maxims that once pervaded English law, vir generally means “husband,” as in the expression vir et uxor (husband and wife). See ET VIR. Cf. UXOR.
civiliter (s[schwa]-vil-[schwa]-t[schwa]r), adv. [Latin “civilly”] 1. By a civil, as distinguished from a criminal, proceeding. Cf. CRIMINALITER. 2. Civilly; as a citizen. civiliter mortuus (s[schwa]-vil-[schwa]-t[schwa]r mor-choo-[schwa]s). [Latin] Civilly dead (the wife of a man civiliter mortuus had similar rights). See civil death (1) under DEATH.