The wife is the female partner in a marriage, which is between a husband (male) and wife (female.) It is an ongoing marital relationship, wherein the wife may also be “a spouse” or the spouse of her husband. The term “ex-wife” usually refers to the former spouse of the husband, ex meaning “prior” or former.” The term continues may be applied to a woman who has separated from her husband even though a divorce may not have been officially granted by a court of law. The use of the term does not cease when the marriage ends in a legally recognized divorce or the death of the wife. In Re Wechsler, 18 N.Y.L.J. 36.