Should the wife be the petitioner or defendant?

In a legal context, whether the wife should be the petitioner or defendant depends on the circumstances of the case. If she is initiating the proceedings, such as in a divorce or custody case, she would be the petitioner. Conversely, if she is responding to a petition filed by her spouse, she would be the defendant. The roles are determined by who is initiating the legal action and the nature of the case.