A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Valor maritagii (val-uhr mar-uh-tay-jee-I) is a Latin term used in history to refer to the value of a marriage. In ancient tenures, it was the amount that a female ward had to pay to her guardian when the guardian had offered her a marriage without inequality, and she refused. In feudal law, the guardian in chivalry had the right to offer a suitable match to a minor ward. If the ward refused the match, she had to compensate the guardian for the value of the marriage (valor maritagii).

Example: In the past, if a female ward refused a marriage proposal from her guardian, she had to pay the valor maritagii to the guardian. For instance, if a jury assessed the value of the marriage to be $10,000, the ward had to pay that amount to the guardian.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the valor maritagii worked in practice. If a female ward refused a marriage proposal, the guardian could demand compensation for the value of the marriage. The amount of compensation was usually determined by a jury or by what someone would bona fide give to the guardian for such an alliance. The valor maritagii was a way to ensure that the guardian did not lose out on a potential marriage alliance for the ward.