§ 770 Married Person'S Separate Property

Family Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•Stuff you owned before getting married stays yours alone.
•Gifts or inheritances you get while married are yours alone, even if you're married.
•You can sell or give away your own stuff without asking your spouse.

Example

Before getting married, Alex owned a house. After marriage, Alex's grandma left them a car in her will.

The house and the car are Alex's alone. Alex can sell the house or the car without needing their spouse's permission.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 770 Married Person'S Separate Property

(a) Separate property of a married person includes all of the following: (1) All property owned by the person before marriage. (2) All property acquired by the person after marriage by gift, bequest, devise, or descent. (3) The rents, issues, and profits of the property described in this section. (b) A married person may, without the consent of the person’s spouse, convey the person’s separate property. (Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

separate property married person gift bequest devise descent rents issues profits

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Family Code. Section 770.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References