community property

American  

noun

U.S. Law.

1. (in some states) property acquired by either spouse, or both together, that is considered by law to be jointly owned and equally shared.

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Etymology

Origin of community property

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Not all real estate purchased during marriage qualifies unambiguously as community property.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

“More importantly, the state has complex laws about community property, homestead exemptions, and tax implications that can dramatically affect how your assets pass to your heirs.”

From MarketWatch • Nov. 3, 2025

For couples without prenups and divorcing in one of the nine community property states, assets accrued during the marriage may be split 50/50.

From Salon • Dec. 29, 2024

Shi’s son testified that, on a trip to Disneyland with his children in January 2016, his father raged over the state’s community property laws, which typically require an equal split of marital assets.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2024

“She’ll claim it’s community property, divvy it out to her minions, and there goes our emergency supply.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman