Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 557 / Act 216 of 1981
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 557.21 (2026)

Status of property acquired by woman before or after marriage; earnings of married woman.

✓ current as of July 2026
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RIGHTS AND LIABILITY OF MARRIED WOMEN


Act 216 of 1981


557.21 Status of property acquired by woman before or after marriage; earnings of married woman.

Sec. 1.

    (1) If a woman acquires real or personal property before marriage or becomes entitled to or acquires, after marriage, real or personal property through gift, grant, inheritance, devise, or other manner, that property is and shall remain the property of the woman and be a part of the woman's estate. She may contract with respect to the property, sell, transfer, mortgage, convey, devise, or bequeath the property in the same manner and with the same effect as if she were unmarried. The property shall not be liable for the debts, obligations, or engagements of any other person, including the woman's husband, except as provided in this act.

    (2) A married woman has the absolute right to have, hold, own, retain, and enjoy earnings acquired by the married woman as the result of her personal efforts and those earnings shall be considered the property of the married woman as described in subsection (1).

History: 1981, Act 216, Eff. Mar. 31, 1982

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1983–2021 · leading case: Helena Agri-Enter., LLC v. Great Lakes Grain, LLC, 988 F.3d 260 (6th Cir. 2021).
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Helena Agri-Enter., LLC v. Great Lakes Grain, LLC, 988 F.3d 260 (6th Cir. 2021). · cites it 2× “1998); Mich. Comp. Laws § 557.21 ; see United States v.”
North Ottawa Cmty. Hosp. v. Kieft, 578 N.W.2d 267 (Mich. 1998). · cites it 5× “[MCL 557.21(1); MSA 26.165(1)(1) (emphasis added).”
Canjar v. Cole, 770 N.W.2d 449 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “See MCL 557.21; North Ottawa Community Hosp v Kieft, 457 Mich 394, 406 ; 578 NW2d 267 (1998).”
Donkers v. Kovach, 745 N.W.2d 154 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “See MCL 557.21 et seq. Also, Michigan's 1963 Constitution abolished the disabilities of coverture with respect to property.”
Borgess Med. Ctr. v. Smith, 386 N.W.2d 684 (Mich. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 3× “On September 4, 1984, a Hillsdale District Court judge rendered an opinion and judgment holding that under the married women’s property act, MCL 557.21; MSA 26.165(1), a woman was not responsible for the debts of her husband.”
People v. Wallace, 434 N.W.2d 422 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “The district court dismissed the larceny from a person charges against defendant, holding that the so-called married women’s property acts, Const 1963, art 10, §1 and MCL 557.21(1); MSA 26.165(1)(1), were not intended to abrogate the common-law rule that there were no crimes of…”
Michigan Nat'l Bank of Detroit v. McCormick (In Re McCormick), 26 B.R. 869 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 1983). “54, provides in pertinent part: (1) A married woman may enter into a written contract pledging or assigning her interest in her separate property, as described in section 1, as security for the debt of another person, including the debt of her husband.”
North Ottawa Cmty. Hosp. v. Kieft, 543 N.W.2d 37 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “The hospital sued Barbara for David's hospital care, and Barbara raised the defense of the married women's property act, MCL 557.21; MSA 26.165(1), which in pertinent part states as follows: If a woman acquires real or personal property before marriage or becomes entitled to or…”
Citizens Com. & Sav. Bank v. Raleigh, 406 N.W.2d 479 (Mich. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “183, repealed by 1981 PA 216 , MCL 557.21 et seq.; MSA 26.165(1) et seq.”
Bronson Methodist Hosp. v. LaRoy, 430 N.W.2d 817 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). “The Court in Borgess alluded to the married women’s act, specifically to MCL 557.21; MSA 26.165(1), which states: (1) If a woman acquires real or personal property before marriage or becomes entitled to or *731 acquires, after marriage, real or personal property through gift,…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 557.21(1) — 3 cases
North Ottawa Cmty. Hosp. v. Kieft, 578 N.W.2d 267 (Mich. 1998). “[MCL 557.21(1); MSA 26.165(1)(1) (emphasis added).”
Canjar v. Cole, 770 N.W.2d 449 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). “See MCL 557.21; North Ottawa Community Hosp v Kieft, 457 Mich 394, 406 ; 578 NW2d 267 (1998).”
People v. Wallace, 434 N.W.2d 422 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). “The district court dismissed the larceny from a person charges against defendant, holding that the so-called married women’s property acts, Const 1963, art 10, §1 and MCL 557.21(1); MSA 26.165(1)(1), were not intended to abrogate the common-law rule that there were no crimes of…”
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