Kesubos 8:4-5

Kesubos 8:4

Rabbi Shimon says that in a situation where the husband has an advantage upon marriage, he has a disadvantage upon divorce; where he has a disadvantage upon marriage, he has an advantage upon divorce. Produce still attached to the ground is his upon marriage and his wife’s upon divorce; produce that has been harvested is his wife’s upon marriage and his upon divorce.

Kesubos 8:5

If a man’s wife inherited elderly servants, they should be sold and the money used to purchase land, from which the husband may enjoy the proceeds. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says that one does not sell such servants as they are considered a source of pride for her father’s house. If she inherited old olive trees and grape vines, they should be sold for wood and the money used to purchase land, from which the husband may enjoy the proceeds. Rabbi Yehuda says they are not sold because they are considered a source of pride for her father’s house. Let’s say that a man spent money improving his wife’s property. Whether he spent a lot and benefitted a little or spent a little and benefitted a lot, whatever he spent was what he spent and whatever he benefitted was what he benefitted. If he invested in improving his wife’s property but did not benefit at all, he takes an oath as to how much he spent and he collects the appropriate amount.