Under community property laws, what is the property accumulated prior to marriage called?

The property accumulated prior to marriage is referred to as separate property. Under community property laws, any assets or possessions that an individual owned before entering into marriage remain solely the property of that individual. This distinction is critical because, in community property states, property acquired during the marriage is typically considered community property, which means it is jointly owned by both spouses regardless of who earned the income or acquired the assets.

Separate property can also include gifts and inheritances received by one spouse during the marriage as long as they are kept separate from community property. Recognizing separate property is essential when determining the distribution of assets during divorce or legal separation, as it helps to protect the interests of both individuals involved in the marriage.