1. Family law. The common-law rule that a husband and wife were a legal unity. • Under the spousal-unity doctrine, the husband had all rights to the possession, management, control, and alienation of property. The wife had no interests in property. — Also termed doctrine of spousal unity. See MARRIED WOMEN’S PROPERTY ACTS. Cf. LEGAL-UNITIES DOCTRINE .
2. Tax. The rule that a person and that person’s spouse are treated as one. • This rule has been repealed. — Also termed spousal-unity rule.
