This Article analyzes wills and inventories probated in three Kentucky counties, Boone, Woodford, and Wayne Counties, between 1860 and 1870. The results of the study show that married women in the three counties generally did not execute wills during the sample period, which is an expected result given the testamentary limitations imposed upon married women by Kentucky law. Despite dual encumbrances imposed by common and statutory law during the sample period, legislative and judicial action before, during, and after the sampled decade illustrates the advance of women’s property rights in Kentucky. The Kentucky General Assembly passed a number of private and public bills that expanded the testamentary authority of married women after 1848, which is striking given the relative absence of legislation that authorized wills by married women before 1848. Furthermore, a number of testators placed assets in separate use trusts for the benefit of daughters thereby allowing those daughters to transfer separate estates by will after marriage pursuant to Kentucky common and statutory law. The authority to execute a will to dispose of a separate estate provided a married woman with an opportunity to express her intent on paper with the sanction of law.