Community Property Flashcards
Married couple
A valid marriage requires (1) the consent of 2 parties, (2) who have legal capacity to enter into marriage, (3) and legal formalities (licensing, authentication, and solemnization)
Married couples’ property will be distributed based on community property principles
End of marital community
The marital community ends upon death, divorce, or permanent separation with an intent to to end the marriage. Physical separation is not required for the last prong - courts generally look towards (1) an intent to permanently end the marriage, and (2) conduct manifesting that intent.
Unmarried cohabitants
Community property principles do not apply to unmarried cohabitants. Courts generally apply contract principles to divide assets in such cases.
If the contract is silent as to division of assets, courts may distribute assets in such a way as to give effect to any implied understanding between the two parties, or to prevent unjust enrichment.
Quasi-marital property
Property acquired during the marriage that would be considered CP or QCP if the marriage were valid.
Putative spouse
Protects an innocent spouse in a void or voidable marriage so long as that spouse has a good faith belief in the validity of the marriage. CP principles may still apply to award assets to the putative spouse even if marriage is void or voidable (this is known as quasi-marital property); but protection ceases once spouse no longer has the good faith belief in the validity of the marriage
Putative spouse has equal rights to SP as actual spouse. If a person has a legal spouse and a putative spouse, the two spouses split the person’s estate.
Premarital agreements
Premarital agreements allow parties to avoid CP principles. Such agreements CANNOT be used to modify child support or promote divorce.
Requirements:
(1) must be in writing and signed by both parties
(2) party seeking to enforce must show that agreement was voluntary at time of execution (party must have been advised of right to independent counsel 7 days prior to signing, must be represented by counsel or waive it, there were at least 7 days between receipt of the document and the party’s signing, if no counsel, party was aware of and understood terms)
(3) party seeking to enforce must show that agreement was not unconscionable at time of execution (other party had adequate knowledge of and full disclosure of enforcing party’s property and obligations).
Special Community Property Presumption
Applies ONLY AT DIVORCE and presumes that property acquired in joint form during marriage = CP
This presumption can be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. As of 1984, need to have an express writing evidencing the spouses’ intent to hold the property as SP.
Right to reimbursement - If a spouse contributes SP to the purchase of the property, she/he has a right to reimbursement for the amount of contribution (but not any increase in value, and without interest).
Transmutation
Transmutation occurs when spouses agree to change the nature of property (from SP to CP, CP to SP, or SP of one spouse to the other spouse).
Requirements:
(1) must be in writing
(2) must contain express declaration by adversely affected spouse confirming intent to transmutate property
SEE GIFT EXCEPTION
Transmutation - Gift Exception
Gifts of personal property between spouses do not require a written transmutation if (1) the gift is between spouses, (2) the gift is a tangible item for use by donee spouse, (3) the gift is not substantial in value relative to wealth of couple.
Personal gifts are generally considered a transmutation from the gifting spouse’s SP to the receiving spouse’s SP (unless substantial in value).
Title
Even if an asset is under the title of one spouse, it will still be considered CP (except when special title presumption applies at death)
Commingled Bank Accounts
A commingled bank account is one in which the SP of either spouse is mixed with CP or when both spouses’ SP are mixed. Issue - commingled bank account is used to purchase asset. Presumption is that it is CP, but need to apply one of the tracing methods below to claim SP:
(1) Direct method - there were sufficient SP funds in account to purchase asset, and spouse intended to purchase with SP assets
(2) Exhaustion method - CP was exhausted to pay for family expenses, so remaining SP funds were used to purchase assets.
Educational Degrees
Education degrees during marriage not CP. But, community is entitled to reimbursement if:
(1) CP or QCP funds were used to pay for education costs,
(2) education degree led to substantial increase in earning capacity of spouse.
But reimbursement is limited if (1) education degree was acquired > 10 yrs ago (in such cases, there is a presumption that other spouse substantially benefitted community), (2) other spouse also used CP or QCP to pursue educational degree, or (3) education reduced need for spousal support upon divorce.
Personal Injury recovery
If injury occurred before marriage - personal injury recovery = SP.
If injury occurred during marriage - personal injury recovery = CP.
- But upon divorce, will become SP (upon divorce, CP personal injury awards and settlements are assigned entirely to the injured spouse)
- Upon death of either spouse, tort proceeds are characterized as CP.
Stock options
Stock options awarded by employer are a form of compensation, and to the extent they replace earnings, will be considered CP. Stock options that replace earnings after separation or divorce are SP.
Courts will apportion stock options based on 1 of 2 formulas:
(Date of Hire - Date of Separation)/(Date of Hire - Date of Vest) x number of shares = CP
SP = # of shares - CP.
(Date of Grant - Date of Separation)/ (Date of Grant - Date of Vest) x # of shares = CP
SP = # of shares - CP
So in summary, the formulas are (DOH or DOG - DOS)/(DOH or DOG - DOV) x # of shares.
Separate property business
Generally, income from an SP business is SP. But if a spouse contributes labor to the SP, a court must determine how much of the business is CP.
There are two approaches - the Pereira approach is used if the increase in value is based on personal skill and effort of managing spouse. the Van camp approach, in contrast, is used when the increase in value is based on the character of the business asset itself rather than labor of the managing spouse.
