Separate Property and Inheritance in a California Divorce: When 'Yours' Stays Yours

If you owned something before you got married, or you received a gift or inheritance during the marriage, you’d probably assume it’s simply yours to keep in a divorce. Usually, that’s true. But there are specific, well-defined ways that “yours” can quietly turn into “ours” without either spouse meaning for it to happen — and this article walks through exactly what those are, in plain language. Quick Answer: What Stays Separate Property ...

September 12, 2026 · 8 min · Jamie Rowe