Under community property regimes, depending on the jurisdiction, property owned by one spouse before marriage, and gifts and inheritances received during marriage, are treated as that spouse's separate property in the event of divorce. All other property acquired during the marriage is treated as community property and is subject to division between the spouses in the event of divorce. In some cases, separate property can be "transmuted" into community property, or be included in the marital estate for reasons of equity.
Community of Acquests and Gains: Each spouse owns an undivided half-interest in all property acquired during the marriage, except for property acquired by gift or inheritance during the marriage, which is separate property; or which traces to separate property acquired before the marriage, which remains separate property; or which is acquired during a period when the couple are permanently living separately and apart (e.g., legal separation, actual, or de facto), which is also separate property. This genre of community property is also called "ganancial community property." (Fr communauté réduite aux acquêts, Sp sociedad de gananciales, Du gemeenschap van aanwinst van goederen, gemeenschap van vruchten en inkomsten, Ger Errungenschaftsgemeinschaft, It comunione degli acquisti)
Community of Profit and Loss: similar to above but liabilities ("losses") are separate property. (Du gemeenschap van winst en verlies, Afrik gemeenskap van wins en verlies)
Community of Personal and Marital Property: Community property consists of all property, personalty and realty, acquired during the marriage; and all personalty acquired before the marriage. Realty acquired before marriage is separate property. (Fr communauté de meubles et acquêts, Du gemeenschap van inboedel, Ger Fahrnisgemeinschaft).
Limited Community Property: Similar to community of acquests and gains but certain marital property is separate property. (Fr communauté de biens limitée, Du beperkte gemeenschap van goederen, Swiss Ger Ausschlussgemeinschaft)
Universal or Absolute Community Property: All pre-marital and marital property is community property. However, if there are children from a prior marriage, the property associated with that marital community may be segregated from the community property of a subsequent marriage, to ensure the children of the prior spouse have an inheritance. (Fr communauté universelle, Sp comunidad absoluta de bienes, Du algehele gemeenschap van goederen, Ger allgemeine Gütergemeinschaft, It comunione universale dei beni)
Jurisdictions
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019)
Russia
In Russia, community property was introduced by the Soviet government in 1926. Prior to that, laws evolved by the late 18th century dictated separate property regime, so a married woman was (at least in theory) in full charge of her property, including the dowry and whatever she acquired personally during the marriage. The new Soviet system replaced this with a limited form of community property, namely community of acquisitions, and it survives to the present day. The only significant change, made in 1995, was the introduction of marital agreement which didn't exist under the Soviet law. Such an agreement may be signed at any time before or after conclusion of the marriage. It may regulate the spouses' rights on a basis entirely alien to the statutory regime, but shouldn't put any of them (especially one who cannot provide for themselves) into a clearly unfavorable position.[10]
In South Africa, if a couple does not sign an antenuptial contract, before a notary public, which is subsequently registered at a deeds office, prior to marriage, they are married in community of property, which means that all of their assets and liabilities (even those acquired before the marriage) are merged into a joint estate during their marriage, in which each spouse has an undivided half-share. Each spouse has equal power to deal independently with the estate, except that certain major transactions require the consent of both spouses.[11] One of the consequences of community of property in South Africa is that if one spouse is declared insolvent (bankrupt) during the marriage, the other also becomes insolvent, a potentially devastating consequence.[12]
Map of the United States with community property states in red. Additionally, Alaska, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee are elective community property states, and of the five inhabited US territories, Puerto Rico and Guam are community property jurisdictions.
The United States has nine community property states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.[13] Four other states have adopted optional community property systems. Alaska allows spouses to create community property by entering into a community property agreement or by creating a community property trust.[14] In 2010, Tennessee adopted a law similar to Alaska's and allows residents and non-residents to opt into community property through a community property trust.[15] More recently, Kentucky adopted an optional community property system in 2020, allowing residents and non-residents to establish community property trusts.[16] Finally, in 2021 Florida adopted a similar law, allowing citizens and noncitizens to establish community property trusts. [17] The commonwealth of Puerto Rico allows property to be owned as community property also[13] as do several Native American jurisdictions.
Division of community property may take place by item by splitting all items or by values. In some jurisdictions, such as California, a 50/50 division of community property is strictly mandated by statute[18] so the focus then shifts to whether particular items are to be classified as community or separate property. In other jurisdictions, such as Texas, a divorce court may decree an "equitable distribution" of community property, which may result in an unequal division of such. In non-community property states property may be divided by equitable distribution. Generally speaking, the property that each partner brings into the marriage or receives by gift, bequest or devise during marriage is called separate property (not community property). See division of property. Division of community debts may not be the same as division of community property. For example, in California, community property is required to be divided "equally" while community debt is required to be divided "equitably".[19]
Notes
^Morley, Jeremy. "Marrying a Swede? Or Swedish and Getting Married? Don't You Need a Prenuptial Agreement?".
^"Is there a statutory matrimonial property regime and if so, what does it provide? - Couples in Germany". www.coupleseurope.eu.
^"Is there a statutory matrimonial property regime and if so, what does it provide? - Couples in Italy". www.coupleseurope.eu.
^"Is there a statutory matrimonial property regime and if so, what does it provide? - Couples in France". www.coupleseurope.eu.
^"Marriage in Community of property - Family law".
^Gerhard, Ute (1997). Frauen in der Geschichte des Rechts von der frühen Neuzeit bis zur Gegenwart (in German). München. ISBN978-3-406-42866-1. OCLC 243866547.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Ramos Pazos, René (2007). Derecho de Familia. Santiago: Editorial Jurídica de Chile. pp. 158–160.
^Tous, P., and Éric Fongaro. Droit international privé patrimonial de la famille. LexisNexis, 2017.
^Prof. Masha Antokolskaia (2008). "Property relationship between spouses — Russia" (PDF). CEFL Online. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
^(PDF). Law Society of South Africa. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
^"Getting Married in Community of Property – Your Rights and Liabilities".
^ ab"Internal Revenue Manual – 25.18.1 Basic Principles of Community Property Law". www.irs.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
^See In re Marriage of Eastis, 47 Cal. App. 3d 459 (1975).
References
Gail Boreman-Bird. Cases and Materials on California Community Property, 10th edn. Revised by Jo Carrillo. St. Paul, Minn.: West Academic Publishing, 2011.
Jo Carrillo. Understanding California Community Property Law. New Providence, NJ: LexisNexis, 2015.
Jan P Charmatz & Harriet Spiller Daggett, eds. Comparative Studies in Community Property Law. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1955 (repr: Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1977).
Charlotte K. Goldberg. Examples & Explanations: California Community Property, 5th edn. NY: Wolters Kluwer, 2016.
Robert L. Mennell & Jo Carrillo. Community Property in a Nutshell, 3rd edn. St. Paul, Minn.: West Academic Publishing, 2014.
William A. Reppy, Jr. Community Property, 18th edn. Chicago: Thomson/BarBri Group, 2003.
William A. Reppy, Jr., Cynthia A. Samuel, & Sally Brown Richardson. Community Property in the United States, 8th edn. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2015.
August 25, 2023
community, property, united, states, also, called, community, property, south, africa, marital, property, regime, that, originated, civil, jurisdictions, also, found, some, common, jurisdictions, citation, needed, community, property, regimes, found, countries. Community property United States also called community of property South Africa is a marital property regime that originated in civil law jurisdictions but is now also found in some common law jurisdictions citation needed Community of property regimes can be found in countries around the world including Sweden 1 Germany 2 Italy 3 France 4 South Africa 5 and parts of the United States 6 In civil law countries such as Spain France and Germany spouses can generally select one of several matrimonial regimes to divide property with community property being one option along with the separate property system and a participation system 7 8 9 Under community property regimes depending on the jurisdiction property owned by one spouse before marriage and gifts and inheritances received during marriage are treated as that spouse s separate property in the event of divorce All other property acquired during the marriage is treated as community property and is subject to division between the spouses in the event of divorce In some cases separate property can be transmuted into community property or be included in the marital estate for reasons of equity Contents 1 Variations 2 Jurisdictions 2 1 Custom of Paris in New France 2 2 Russia 2 3 South Africa 2 4 United States 3 Notes 4 ReferencesVariations EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Further information Matrimonial regime Community of Acquests and Gains Each spouse owns an undivided half interest in all property acquired during the marriage except for property acquired by gift or inheritance during the marriage which is separate property or which traces to separate property acquired before the marriage which remains separate property or which is acquired during a period when the couple are permanently living separately and apart e g legal separation actual or de facto which is also separate property This genre of community property is also called ganancial community property Fr communaute reduite aux acquets Sp sociedad de gananciales Du gemeenschap van aanwinst van goederen gemeenschap van vruchten en inkomsten Ger Errungenschaftsgemeinschaft It comunione degli acquisti Community of Profit and Loss similar to above but liabilities losses are separate property Du gemeenschap van winst en verlies Afrik gemeenskap van wins en verlies Community of Personal and Marital Property Community property consists of all property personalty and realty acquired during the marriage and all personalty acquired before the marriage Realty acquired before marriage is separate property Fr communaute de meubles et acquets Du gemeenschap van inboedel Ger Fahrnisgemeinschaft Limited Community Property Similar to community of acquests and gains but certain marital property is separate property Fr communaute de biens limitee Du beperkte gemeenschap van goederen Swiss Ger Ausschlussgemeinschaft Universal or Absolute Community Property All pre marital and marital property is community property However if there are children from a prior marriage the property associated with that marital community may be segregated from the community property of a subsequent marriage to ensure the children of the prior spouse have an inheritance Fr communaute universelle Sp comunidad absoluta de bienes Du algehele gemeenschap van goederen Ger allgemeine Gutergemeinschaft It comunione universale dei beni Jurisdictions EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it January 2019 Custom of Paris in New France Edit Main article Marriage community This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it January 2019 Russia Edit In Russia community property was introduced by the Soviet government in 1926 Prior to that laws evolved by the late 18th century dictated separate property regime so a married woman was at least in theory in full charge of her property including the dowry and whatever she acquired personally during the marriage The new Soviet system replaced this with a limited form of community property namely community of acquisitions and it survives to the present day The only significant change made in 1995 was the introduction of marital agreement which didn t exist under the Soviet law Such an agreement may be signed at any time before or after conclusion of the marriage It may regulate the spouses rights on a basis entirely alien to the statutory regime but shouldn t put any of them especially one who cannot provide for themselves into a clearly unfavorable position 10 South Africa Edit Main article Marriage in South Africa Financial consequences In South Africa if a couple does not sign an antenuptial contract before a notary public which is subsequently registered at a deeds office prior to marriage they are married in community of property which means that all of their assets and liabilities even those acquired before the marriage are merged into a joint estate during their marriage in which each spouse has an undivided half share Each spouse has equal power to deal independently with the estate except that certain major transactions require the consent of both spouses 11 One of the consequences of community of property in South Africa is that if one spouse is declared insolvent bankrupt during the marriage the other also becomes insolvent a potentially devastating consequence 12 United States Edit Main article Community property in the United States Map of the United States with community property states in red Additionally Alaska Florida Kentucky and Tennessee are elective community property states and of the five inhabited US territories Puerto Rico and Guam are community property jurisdictions The United States has nine community property states Arizona California Idaho Louisiana Nevada New Mexico Texas Washington and Wisconsin 13 Four other states have adopted optional community property systems Alaska allows spouses to create community property by entering into a community property agreement or by creating a community property trust 14 In 2010 Tennessee adopted a law similar to Alaska s and allows residents and non residents to opt into community property through a community property trust 15 More recently Kentucky adopted an optional community property system in 2020 allowing residents and non residents to establish community property trusts 16 Finally in 2021 Florida adopted a similar law allowing citizens and noncitizens to establish community property trusts 17 The commonwealth of Puerto Rico allows property to be owned as community property also 13 as do several Native American jurisdictions Division of community property may take place by item by splitting all items or by values In some jurisdictions such as California a 50 50 division of community property is strictly mandated by statute 18 so the focus then shifts to whether particular items are to be classified as community or separate property In other jurisdictions such as Texas a divorce court may decree an equitable distribution of community property which may result in an unequal division of such In non community property states property may be divided by equitable distribution Generally speaking the property that each partner brings into the marriage or receives by gift bequest or devise during marriage is called separate property not community property See division of property Division of community debts may not be the same as division of community property For example in California community property is required to be divided equally while community debt is required to be divided equitably 19 Notes Edit Morley Jeremy Marrying a Swede Or Swedish and Getting Married Don t You Need a Prenuptial Agreement Is there a statutory matrimonial property regime and if so what does it provide Couples in Germany www coupleseurope eu Is there a statutory matrimonial property regime and if so what does it provide Couples in Italy www coupleseurope eu Is there a statutory matrimonial property regime and if so what does it provide Couples in France www coupleseurope eu Marriage in Community of property Family law Marital Property Who Owns What Findlaw Gerhard Ute 1997 Frauen in der Geschichte des Rechts von der fruhen Neuzeit bis zur Gegenwart in German Munchen ISBN 978 3 406 42866 1 OCLC 243866547 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Ramos Pazos Rene 2007 Derecho de Familia Santiago Editorial Juridica de Chile pp 158 160 Tous P and Eric Fongaro Droit international prive patrimonial de la famille LexisNexis 2017 Prof Masha Antokolskaia 2008 Property relationship between spouses Russia PDF CEFL Online Retrieved 24 September 2022 Marriage the legal aspects PDF Law Society of South Africa 2011 Archived from the original PDF on 14 November 2012 Retrieved 2 February 2013 Getting Married in Community of Property Your Rights and Liabilities a b Internal Revenue Manual 25 18 1 Basic Principles of Community Property Law www irs gov Retrieved 2016 08 05 See Alaska Stat 34 77 020 34 77 995 McDaniel A Stephen Adams Jr C Michael Community Property Joint Revocable Trust PDF Wyatt Tarrant amp Combs Kentucky Revised Statutes 386 620 622 624 Moore Blakely Florida Community Property Trusts Law Office of Larry E Ciesla See California Family Code section 2550 See In re Marriage of Eastis 47 Cal App 3d 459 1975 References EditGail Boreman Bird Cases and Materials on California Community Property 10th edn Revised by Jo Carrillo St Paul Minn West Academic Publishing 2011 Jo Carrillo Understanding California Community Property Law New Providence NJ LexisNexis 2015 Jan P Charmatz amp Harriet Spiller Daggett eds Comparative Studies in Community Property Law Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1955 repr Westport Conn Greenwood Press 1977 Charlotte K Goldberg Examples amp Explanations California Community Property 5th edn NY Wolters Kluwer 2016 Robert L Mennell amp Jo Carrillo Community Property in a Nutshell 3rd edn St Paul Minn West Academic Publishing 2014 William A Reppy Jr Community Property 18th edn Chicago Thomson BarBri Group 2003 William A Reppy Jr Cynthia A Samuel amp Sally Brown Richardson Community Property in the United States 8th edn Durham NC Carolina Academic Press 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Community property amp oldid 1170831692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
