A feme covert was considered a married woman, versus a feme sole, an unmarried woman. A feme sole was under the authority of her father until she married and became a feme covert. Once a feme covert, she had no legal status or rights and was expected to remain loyal to her husband and family. She could not own property, sign legal documents or earn a salary.
The system of feme sole and feme covert existed through much of early history in both Europe and its colonies.
(Law) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a {femecovert}, or {femme couverte}.
Curtesy is a principle in common law in England and early America by which a widower could use his deceased wife’s property (that is, property which she acquired and held in her own name) until his own death, but could not sell or transfer it to anyone but children of his wife.
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