What does it mean that California is a “community property” State?
California law provides that all property acquired during the marriage by the efforts of either party belongs to both parties together, no matter which party earned or obtained it, and that all debts incurred during the marriage for the benefit of the community are the equal responsibility of the parties. Property that you had prior to marriage, or that you received during marriage by gift or inheritance, generally remains your own “separate property,” and does not get divided by the Court. Now that couples are more likely to enter a marriage with their own assets, determining whether an asset is “community” or “separate” can get quite complex, and should be handled by an experienced attorney.
