When you see "private examination" in deed or estate records: FYI From: "Rene D. Henthorn" <[email protected]> Private examination. I've just been transcribing tons of land records so I know this one.A law was put into effect, but don't ask when, that stated when a man & wife sold their property, the wife had to be questioned apart, or privately, from her husband, to ensure that she was OK with the sale and giving up her rights to dower. I guess too many men had either beat up their wives or threatened them to convince them to give up their rights to dower and the women complained later.If you use the first link under my signature to rootsweb.com, you can then go to Deeds and read plenty of land transactions that state the wife was giving up rights to dower and 'privily examined as stated by law' written in the 2nd section of the deed.Hope that helps, good luck in all your searches!René D. Henthorn>[email protected]>Hickman County CC http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyhickma From: "Brenda Jerome" <[email protected]> In early KY deeds, the wife had to be "examined" or questioned regarding being aware of the land being sold and that she consented. This was necessary as, under KY law,she was entitled to 1/3 (her dower right) to property owned by her husband. If she did not relinquish her dower right, there would not be a clear title to the land.Hope this helps.Brenda Joyce Jerome, CGRS Western Kentucky Journal and book list http://pweb.netcom.com/~cpalmer/wkj/wkj.htm From: "Jim Starks" <[email protected]> Forgot to add.. it was done away from the man/husband's presence..thats what the "Privately" examined means. When a man sold property, the wife was "examined"..questioned, to make sure her husband was selling their property with her full consent. Most often this happened when it was a homestead, or part of her dowry; but not necessarily. I guess this was to guard against the husband selling out when the wife might not want to. Shirley _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com