The freedom secured by a married woman had its legal limitations.  If she became a widow, for instance, she could not remarry without the consent of a judge, to whom she was expected to show good cause for the step she proposed to take.  Punishments for breaches of the marriage law were severe.  Adultery was a capital crime; the guilty parties were bound together and thrown into the river.  If it happened, however, that the wife of a prisoner went to reside with another man on account of poverty, she was acquitted and allowed to return to her husband after his release.  In cases where no plea of poverty could be urged the erring women were drowned.  The wife of a soldier who had been taken prisoner by an enemy was entitled to a third part of her husband’s estate if her son was a minor, the remainder was held in trust.  The husband could enter into possession of all his property again if he happened to return home.

Divorce was easily obtained.  A husband might send his wife away either because she was childless or because he fell in love with another woman.  Incompatibility of temperament was also recognized as sufficient reason for separation.  A woman might hate her husband and wish to leave him.  “If”, the Code sets forth, “she is careful and is without blame, and is neglected by her husband who has deserted her”, she can claim release from the marriage contract.  But if she is found to have another lover, and is guilty of neglecting her duties, she is liable to be put to death.

A married woman possessed her own property.  Indeed, the value of her marriage dowry was always vested in her.  When, therefore, she divorced her husband, or was divorced by him, she was entitled to have her dowry refunded and to return to her father’s house.  Apparently she could claim maintenance from her father.

A woman could have only one husband, but a man could have more than one wife.  He might marry a secondary wife, or concubine, because he was without offspring, but “the concubine”, the Code lays down, “shall not rank with the wife”.  Another reason for second marriage recognized by law was a wife’s state of health.  In such circumstances a man could not divorce his sickly wife.  He had to support her in his house as long as she lived.

Children were the heirs of their parents, but if a man during his lifetime gifted his property to his wife, and confirmed it on “a sealed tablet”, the children could have no claim, and the widow was entitled to leave her estate to those of her children she preferred; but she could not will any portion of it to her brothers.  In ordinary cases the children of a first marriage shared equally the estate of a father with those of a second marriage.  If a slave bore children to her employer, their right to inheritance depended on whether or not the father had recognized them as his offspring during his lifetime.  A father might legally disown his son if the young man was guilty of criminal practices.