The booklet describes economic handicaps faced by women who become divorced or widowed. The purpose of the document is to increase the general public's understanding of how customs, old laws, and government policies support the framework of the family when things go wrong. The document is presented in four major sections. Section I focuses on marriage and offers 12 case studies on the following topics: marriage and money, the meaning of the right to support, what a wife's services are worth, personal rights in marriage, and violence. Section II offers case studies of 11 divorce-related situations. The case studies focus on divorce without fault, financial settlements, compensation for lost earning power, child custody, maintenance payments, enforcement of support payments, double standards, and transfer of debts. Section III presents eight case studies dealing with aspects of widowhood such as social security, pensions, insurance, family property, inheritance tax, co-ownership of real estate, and estate planning. The final chapter summarizes ways in which the marriage and marital property laws can be changed to reflect modern social trends. (DB)