What type of property is considered Community Property?

Community Property refers specifically to a legal framework governing property acquired during a marriage. In areas that recognize community property laws, anything earned or purchased by either spouse during the marriage is considered jointly owned, regardless of whose name is on the title. This principle reflects the notion that both partners contribute to the marital partnership, whether through income, labor, or other means.

Assets acquired before marriage, inherited property, or individual business property owned prior to the marriage do not fall under community property, as they are not obtained during the marriage itself and therefore are not subject to division upon divorce. Only the assets gained or earned during the time the spouses are married are classified as community property, making it distinct from other types of property ownership.