Property that is owned or has been acquired during the course of a marriage (or common law relationship in a jurisdiction that recognizes such), where the title and ownership of the property is joint, akin to tenants in common with ownership of each spouse equally. It excludes that which is from a private source such as via inheritance, private gifts or income or profits from property that was owned prior to the marriage. Community property laws are in effect in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Compare equitable distribution and separate property.
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Law Dictionary » C » COMMUNITY PROPERTY