A father gives all his property to one of his five sons. What is the presumed legal effect?
The Rambam rules that when a parent gives all his property to one of several children, we presume the intent was to appoint an administrator, not to disinherit the others.
Question 2
A man gives all his property to his wife. What happens to her ketubah rights?
If a wife accepts all her husband's property as a gift, she forfeits her ketubah. She cannot claim both the gift (which covers everything) and the marriage financial guarantee.
Question 3
A man gives all his property to his wife and to one stranger. What does the stranger acquire?
When a stranger is named alongside a wife in a gift of all one's property, the stranger acquires exactly half — and the wife's half is treated as an administrative appointment, not full ownership.
Question 4
A man sends betrothal money to a woman and she retracts from the engagement. What must she return?
When the woman retracts, she must return everything — including food and drink (she compensates for their value). The man bears no loss when the woman initiated the withdrawal.
Question 5
A father celebrates his son's first marriage to a virgin in a house and says 'this house is for you.' Does the son acquire it?
The Rambam rules that celebrating a son's first marriage in a house, with a designation of the house for the son, constitutes a recognized transfer of ownership.