Community Property Flashcards
What is the basic idea of community property?
the acquisition of property by either spouse during marriage through the time, energy, and skill of one or both spouses is treated as a contribution to the marital community
contributions can be pecuniary or nonpecuniary
contributions are presumed equal
When does the marital community end?
the marital community ends with permanent separation, divorce, or death, whichever comes first
When does permanent separation occur?
1) one spouse expressly informs the other spouse that they intend to end the marriage AND
2) the spouse’s conduct is consistent with that intent
+It is ok to be permanently separated, but living together still. But there likely needs to be further conduct to show separation
+On the essay, argue both ways that the community ended or did not end.
How is SP acquired?
- before marriage
- after divorce/permanent separation
- by gift or inheritance, even during marriage
- rent, income, or profit from a SP asset remains SP
+earnings are assumed SP when a married couple is living apart
What is quasi-community property?
QCP is property acquired by a married couple while living in another state that would have been classified as CP if the parties were married and domiciled in CA at the time the property was acquired
During marriage, the property is governed by the laws of the other state
[C as in Community matters and determines type of property]
When is the QCP rule triggered?
This rule is only triggered upon divorce or upon the death of the spouse holding title to the property
What is the equal division rule?
upon divorce, 1/2 of the community property estate will be split
*This can change according to the spousal agreement or exceptions
How does a party rebut a CP or SP presumption of an asset?
Willa purchased a painting during marriage with dividends from her stock index fund. Willa
invested in the stock index fund using money she inherited from her
grandmother. Presumptively it is CP, but it is actually SP
What are the elements of a valid marriage?
[CALS think of a wedding at berkeley]
- consent (if younger than 18, there must be a court order and parental consent)
- authentication
- license
- solemnization
What are the elements of a domestic partnership?
- intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring adults
- capacity to marry
- registration under the CA Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act
+cohabitation is NOT required
CA has abolished common law marriage
But under the Full Faith and Credit Clause, CA will recognize a valid common-law marriage created in another state
CP principles will apply to these marriages
When is a marriage void (invalid from its inception)?
On the grounds of
- bigamy
- incest
When is a marriage voidable (legal until declared void by the court)?
- underage
- unsound mind
- fraud sufficient to vitiate consent
- force or duress
- incurable physical incapacity
- person remarries after presumed death of prior spouse
What is the putative spouse doctrine?
it protects an innocent spouse in a void or voidable marriage from losing CP benefits IF the spouse believed in good faith that the marriage was valid
Good faith is determined by a totality of the circumstances
+The moment that the putative spouse finds out that they are not married, the doctrine no longer applies
What is the property acquired by a putative spouse during a void or voidable marriage called?
quasi-marital property (QMP)
[remember M as in make believe]
What protections do unmarried cohabitants get?
contract principles apply.
An express agreement between unmarried cohabitants (i.e., cohabitation contract) is
enforceable unless the underlying consideration for the contract is sexual services.
What is prohibited in a spousal agreement?
an agreement that:
- impacts child support
- promotes divorce
What are requirements for a valid prenuptial agreement?
SUV W
- signed by both parties
- not unconscionable
- voluntary
- in writing
+does not need consideration
What must the spouse seeking to enforce the prenuptial agreement show?
the agreement was neither involuntary nor unconscionable at the time of its execution
What must be shown by the proponent spouse to demonstrate that the prenuptial agreement was voluntary?
- the spouse against whom enforcement is being sought was represented by independent legal counsel or waived their right to independent counsel in a separate writing (but still understood the material terms)
- 7 days passed between receipt of the agreement and having to sign it
- the agreement is not a product of duress, fraud, undue influence, or incapacity
What must be shown to demonstrate that the prenuptial agreement was unconscionable?
all of the following:
- spouse lacked a full, fair, and reasonable disclosure of the property and obligations of the other spouse
- spouse did not waive the disclosure in writing
- spouse did not have, nor reasonably could have had, adequate knowledge of the other spouse’s property or obligations
What is the key difference between prenups and spousal support provisions?
prenups: unconscionability is analyzed at the time of execution
spousal support provision: unconscionability is analyzed at the time of enforcement
What is a transmutation?
when a spouse makes a gift or she offers or agrees to change status of CP or SP
What are the requirements of a valid transmutation?
the adversely affected spouse must, in writing, expressly declare the recharacterization of property
+or this is a gift under the gift exception of something insubstantial
When does the gift exception allow a gift of personal property to a spouse without writing?
- gift is between spouses
- gift is a tangible item of a personal nature for use principally by the donee spouse AND
- gift is insubstantial in value (considering the wealth of the couple)
What is a separation agreement?
in anticipation of divorce, spouses may enter into a separation agreement to resolve property issues
When may a separation agreement be set aside?
- fraud
- mistake
- breach of fiduciary duty owed to the spouse
- failure to disclose all relevant financial information to the other spouse
What is the rule on child issues in a separation agreement?
the agreement may resolve child custody, child support, and spousal support issues
But it may not limit the statutory obligations relating to child support nor divest the court of jurisdiction
What is the standard of proof required to rebut the general presumptions of community property (whether something is SP or CP?
a preponderance of the evidence
What is the standard of proof required to rebut a special presumption of community property?
clear and convincing evidence of contrary intent
What are the special presumptions?
- CP presumption at divorce/permanent separation that property acquired in joint form during marriage is CP
- presumption that the form of ownership on the title represents the form of ownership interests of the spouses
[remember the D’s of dissolution]
What is the CP presumption at divorce?
all jointly-held property is presumed CP
This includes: joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety
+This presumption can be rebutted by an express writing evidencing the spouses’ intent to hold the property as SP
What happens if a spouse makes SP contribution to jointly titled property?
the spouse can seek reimbursement (includes down payments, payments for improvement, payments to reduce the principal of a loan [DIP])
Excludes: maintenance, insurance, taxes, investments
What is required to rebut the CP presumption at divorce?
written evidence of intent to hold property as SP
What is the special presumption of title at death?
The form of ownership on the title is presumed to be the nature of the ownership
interests of the spouses
What is required to rebut the special presumption of title at death?
clear and convincing evidence that both spouses did not intend to hold the property as stated in the title
What words are required to form a joint tenancy?
“joint tenancy”
What does each spouse hold during marriage in a JT?
each spouse holds an undivided half SP interest and can unilaterally convey their interest without the consent of the other spouse
What happens to a spouse’s interest in a TiC during marriage? Upon divorce? Upon death?
during marriage: spouse holds SP interest proportionate to their share
upon divorce: the interest is subject to the special CP presumption
upon death: special presumption of title applies and the spouse’s interest passes by will/intestacy
Putting title in the purchasing spouse’s name DOES NOT rebut a CP presumption
Ex: a spouse takes title to an asset (bank account, house, stock) in her name alone using CP assets. Despite the fact that it is titled in the spouse’s name only, it remains CP.
What is the presumption when there is a bank account with commingled CP and SP assets?
presumed to be CP and any purchased asset is presumed to be CP
How can a spouse overcome the presumption that there is a SP interest in a commingled bank account?
- direct tracing
- indirect tracing (exhaustion method)
- if neither tracing methods are possible, it will be assumed to be CP
What is required to demonstrate direct tracing of SP interest in an asset that was purchased with funds from a commingled bank account?
the SP proponent must show that the source of the funds used to purchase the asset came from the SP deposits in the account, not the CP deposits. Requirements:
- sufficient SP funds were available at the time of purchase AND
- proponent intended to use SP funds to purchase the asset
What is required in the indirect tracing (exhaustion method)?
proponent must prove CP funds in the account were exhausted at the time of purchase due to paying for family expenses
This relies on 2 presumptions
1) family expenses are presumed to be paid with CP funds first, then SP funds as needed
2) SP funds used to pay family expenses are presumed to be a gift to the community
What is the rule on educational degrees?
Educational degrees and professional licenses acquired during marriage are not CP.
The enhanced earning capacity of a degreed/licensed spouse is not subject to division.
But the community is entitled to reimbursement if CP funds were used to pay for direct educational expenses (tuition/books) (not living expenses) and the spouse’s earning capacity was substantially improved
What is the rule on paying student loans during marriage?
the community is entitled to reimbursement if CP funds were used during marriage to repay loans for a degree or license obtained before marriage
How are personal injury proceeds for a claim arising during marriage characterized?
CP
Upon divorce, all proceeds are assigned to the injured spouse