husband and wife The old common law rule was that a husband and wife were one person. A husband on his marriage became absolutely entitled to all chattels and choses in possession belonging to his wife in her own right, and to a life interest in her inheritable freehold estates. A wifes choses in action did not vest in the husband unless he reduced them into possession. The husband could dispose of his wifes leaseholds during his lifetime without his wifes concurrence. His concurrence was necessary in any disposition by the wife of her real property. In equity, however, property conveyed to trustees or the husband for the separate use of the wife became her separate property, disposable by her as if a feme sole. The husband had a right to the personal custody of his wife, and to sexual intercourse with her.