Feme sole
Feme sole: Law French for "single woman." A woman who is not married, including a widow or a divorced woman, and who can own property, make contracts and sue in her own name. A feme sole trader was a married woman allowed by law to carry on business on her own account as if unmarried.
What feme sole means
In short, feme sole is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.
Where feme sole comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if feme sole appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read feme sole in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Federal Reserve note: paper currency issued by the Federal Reserve Banks, which is the paper money in everyday use in the United States.
- Felony: a serious crime. Under federal law, it is an offense with a maximum prison term of more than one year (18 U.S.C. § 3559(a)(1) to (5)). A felony conviction can carry lasting effects, such as limits on firearm possession. Each state defines its own felonies.
- Felony disenfranchisement: the loss of the right to vote because of a criminal conviction.
- Feme covert: law French for "covered woman." A married woman under the common-law doctrine of coverture, whose legal rights were merged into her husband's. Compare feme sole.
Why precise terms matter
Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.