[1] Introduced by Q. Voconius Saxa with support from Cato the Elder, Voconius being tribune of the people in that year, this law prohibited those who owned property valued at 100,000 asses (or perhaps sesterces) from making a woman their heir.
In addition, it prohibited extraordinary legacies in a will of a greater value than the inheritance of the ordinary heirs.
This intention of this legislation according to Gellius was sumptuary in that it limited the wealth available to women, who were presumed to expend it on useless luxury goods.
[2] The Lex Voconia was evaded by means of avoiding registration in the census -- as in the case of Publius Annius Asellus -- which entailed the loss of some civil rights, or by the common Roman form of trust known as a fideicommissum.
Legislation under Augustus, in particular the Lex Papia Poppaea relaxed the first provision as well, granting full inheritance rights to married women who were mothers of three children (if born free) or of four children (if a freedwoman).