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

Whether real estate is community property depends on when and how it was acquired — during the marriage or before marriage, paid for with separate or marital funds, etc.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

How an estate is divided among heirs depends on whether the assets are community property with the deceased’s spouse, the nature of the title deeds and the beneficiary designations, among other issues.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

In community property states such as California, both halves of the house get this step-up.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 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

“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