A married person may prosecute and defend civil actions, either of tort or contract, in that person's own name without the joinder of that person's spouse, for the preservation and protection of that person's property and personal rights or for the redress of that person's injuries, as if unmarried, or may prosecute these actions jointly with that person's spouse. The person's spouse may not settle or discharge any of these actions or causes of action without the written consent of the person. Neither of them can be arrested on a writ of execution arising out of these actions or causes of action, nor may the spouse alone maintain an action respecting the person's property.   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]