Coverture

Coverture laws were protection for women from debt and often from the debts of their husband. One of the wealthiest women in England in 1099 was Lady Godiva who never rode naked anywhere. https://preparingyou.com/wiki/Lady_Godiva

Under English common law (which influenced colonial America), the husband and wife were legally one person, with the husband controlling the wife's existence (coverture), making her legally dependent, unable to own property, make contracts, or sue; she lost her separate legal identity, becoming a "feme covert," while the husband gained rights to her property, earnings, and person, though he also gained responsibility for her support and debts, with the relationship being patriarchal and emphasizing male authority.

"By marriage, the husband and wife are one person in law: that is, the very being or legal existence of the woman is suspended during marriage, or at least is incorporated and consolidated into that of the husband; under whose wing, protection, and cover, she performs everything; and is therefore called in our law-french a fem-covert; and her condition during her marriage is called her coverture." Sir William Blackstone Commentaries, Vol. 1, Chap XV.

In order to subvert the natural lawful union of Husband and Wife, one needs to free the man or the women from their unique bond and the coverture of the Family. This may be done through the application and or participation. The most common policy is to offer another coverture instead or in place of the autonomous family. To change their status in what was originally only a natural, if not Holy domestic relationship, there need to be a civil status established by consent.