1,547. Must the Wife Produce Her Kesubah?

Hilchos Ishus 12:18

Some authorities were of the opinion that funds are not provided for the maintenance of a woman whose husband traveled abroad or died unless she shows that she has her kesubah, and that if she cannot produce her kesubah, she is not entitled to maintenance. This is out of concern that perhaps she was already paid the value of her kesubah from the husband, or maybe she forfeited payment to him, as will be addressed in chapter 17. Other authorities maintained that funds are allotted for her maintenance based on the presumption that she neither received nor forfeited her kesubah. According to this opinion, she would not be required to show her kesubah in order to collect the funds for her maintenance. The Rambam favors the latter opinion in the case of an absent husband because his obligation to provide her maintenance comes from the Torah. When it comes to a woman whose husband has died, then she is not entitled to maintenance until she produces her kesubah because this obligation is of rabbinic origin. Additionally, when the husband has died, her maintenance is paid from property that now belongs to his heirs, and the court has an obligation to protects heirs’ rights.

Hilchos Ishus 12:19

If a man went on a journey and his wife borrowed money for her maintenance, he must repay the loan upon his return. If a third party voluntarily took it upon himself to provide for the woman, her husband is not obligated to repay him because he didn’t ask that person to take care of his wife, nor did she request a loan.