If it appears to the presiding judge that such real estate was acquired by such married woman, in whole or in part, otherwise than by gift or conveyance from her husband, and otherwise than as a result of his industry, accumulations, or savings, and that her needs or comforts or the needs or comforts of her minor children require the income or proceeds of such real estate or her interest therein, the judge shall determine what amount, if any, the husband has contributed toward such property. Such judge shall authorize such married woman to sell and convey such real estate by her sole and separate deed upon payment or tender to her husband of such sum, if any, as the judge finds he has contributed to the purchase of such property, to be proportionately increased or decreased to correspond with any material change in value, found by the judge, of such property subsequent to the date of the first contribution, if any made by the husband. Such deed shall have the same effect to pass title to such property as if joined in by the husband.
15 V.S.A. § 103