Responsa for Ketubot 172:15
הלכה מקבר בעלה לבית אביה או שחזרה לבית חמיה ולא נעשית אפוטרופיא אין היורשין משביעין אותה ואם נעשית אפוטרופיא היורשין משביעין אותה על העתיד לבא ואין משביעין אותה על מה שעבר:
If she went from her husband’s grave to her father’s house, or returned to her father-in-law’s house but was not made a guardian, the heirs may not make her swear an oath. But if she was made a guardian the heirs may make her swear an oath in respect of [her administration] during the subsequent period but not in respect of the past.
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. A set apart the land upon which he dwelt for the payment of his wife's ketubah. After his death, the trustee of the orphans demanded that A's widow take an oath to the effect that she did not appropriate anything that belonged to her husband, before she be permitted to collect her ketubah from this real estate. Is the trustee justified in his demand?
A. Since the property was mortgaged to A's widow, she is now considered to be in possession of her ketubah. And as long as she does not demand her ketubah, she is not required to take an oath (Ket. 87b) unless the orphans claim positive knowledge of her having appropriated anything that belonged to their father. Therefore, A's widow is not required to take an oath.
SOURCES: Cr. 266; Am II, 6; Mord. Ket. 224. Cf. Moses Minz, Responsa 96.
A. Since the property was mortgaged to A's widow, she is now considered to be in possession of her ketubah. And as long as she does not demand her ketubah, she is not required to take an oath (Ket. 87b) unless the orphans claim positive knowledge of her having appropriated anything that belonged to their father. Therefore, A's widow is not required to take an oath.
SOURCES: Cr. 266; Am II, 6; Mord. Ket. 224. Cf. Moses Minz, Responsa 96.
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