Do I have rights to my husband's property increase during marriage?

Full question:

My husband bought property 1 year before our marriage and he has been paying for the property since. During our marriage, the property went up $700,000. Do I have the right to share any of this property at all?

  • Category: Marriage
  • Subcategory: Marital Property
  • Date:
  • State: California

Answer:

In California, property bought before marriage is usually considered separate property. The spouse who owns the separate property retains rights to it, including any increase in its value, unless both spouses agree to divide it. This means that your husband's property increase of $700,000 typically belongs solely to him, unless there were changes in title or other specific circumstances.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

In California, a house owned before marriage is generally considered separate property. This means it typically remains the sole property of the spouse who purchased it, and any increase in value during the marriage usually belongs to that spouse alone, unless there are specific agreements or changes in ownership.