California Community Property Flashcards
Community property (California)
Assets and debts acquired during marriage that are owned equally by both spouses.
Example: A house purchased during marriage with joint funds is considered community property.
Separate property (California)
Property owned by one spouse before marriage or acquired by gift, bequest, or inheritance.
Additional information: Separate property is not subject to division upon divorce.
Quasi-community property (California)
Property acquired while living in a non-community property state that would have been community property if acquired in California.
Example sentence: Property acquired in New York but would be community property in California.
Commingled property (California)
Property that contains both separate and community property funds.
Example: Bank account with funds from both spouse’s salaries and inheritance.
Tracing (California)
Method used to identify the source of funds to determine property characterization.
Explanation: Tracing is used to distinguish between separate and community property.
Community property presumption (California)
Assumption that property acquired during marriage is community property unless proven otherwise.
Legal principle: The burden of proof is on the party claiming separate property.
Management and control (California)
Both spouses have equal rights to manage and control community property.
Explanation: Each spouse has the authority to make decisions regarding community assets.
Fiduciary duty (California)
Spouses must act in the highest good faith and fair dealing with respect to community property.
Legal obligation: Spouses must prioritize the interests of the marital partnership.
Transmutation (California)
Process of changing the characterization of property from separate to community or vice versa.
Requirement: Transmutations must be in writing to be valid.
Premarital agreement (California)
Contract entered into before marriage outlining property rights and obligations.
Enforceability: Premarital agreements must be fair and reasonable to be upheld in court.
Community property reimbursement (California)
Right to repayment for separate property contributions to community property.
Example: Reimbursement for using separate funds to pay off a mortgage on a community property home.
Division of property at divorce (California)
Equal division of community property between spouses upon divorce.
Legal requirement: Community property is typically split 50/50 in a divorce.
Post-separation earnings (California)
Income earned by a spouse after separation, considered separate property.
Treatment: Earnings after separation are not subject to community property laws.
Date of separation (California)
The date when a complete and final break in the marital relationship occurs.
Legal significance: Date of separation impacts property division and characterization.
Community property business (California)
Business operated during marriage considered community property.
Ownership: Both spouses have an interest in the business and its assets.
Separate property business (California)
Business owned by one spouse before marriage or acquired with separate property funds.
Example: A business started by one spouse before the marriage.
Goodwill (California)
Intangible asset representing the reputation of a business, considered community property if earned during marriage.
Valuation: Goodwill may be subject to division in a divorce.
Educational degrees (California)
Degrees and licenses are separate property, but the community may be reimbursed for contributions to education.
Reimbursement claim: Spouse may seek reimbursement for educational expenses paid with community funds.
Stock options (California)
Characterized based on when they were awarded and vested, either as community or separate property.
Treatment: Stock options may be subject to division in divorce depending on vesting and award date.
Retirement benefits (California)
Pension and retirement benefits earned during marriage are community property.
Division: Retirement benefits accumulated during marriage are typically split equally.
Disability benefits (California)
Benefits characterized based on whether they replace earnings during marriage or after separation.
Treatment: Disability benefits received during marriage are usually considered community property.
Life insurance (California)
Proceeds from a policy paid for with community funds are community property.
Ownership: Life insurance benefits purchased with joint funds are considered community property.
Personal injury awards (California)
Characterized based on when the cause of action arose, either as community or separate property.
Example: Damages for personal injury occurring during marriage may be community property.
Debt liability (California)
Community estate is liable for debts incurred by either spouse during marriage.
Responsibility: Both spouses may be responsible for debts acquired during the marriage.
Marital agreements (California)
Contracts made during marriage altering property rights, must be in writing and meet certain requirements.
Validity: Marital agreements must comply with legal standards to be enforceable.
Spousal consent (California)
Requirement for both spouses to agree on significant transactions involving community property.
Protection: Spousal consent ensures both parties are aware of and approve major financial decisions.