Community Property in Missouri
State-specific overview · Family Law
Missouri does not recognize community property; marital property is divided equitably, with courts considering all relevant statutory factors.
How Missouri treats Community Property
Missouri is an equitable distribution state where property acquired during marriage is divided fairly but not automatically equally at divorce. Courts consider factors including the length of marriage, each spouse's economic circumstances, contributions to the marriage, and conduct of the parties. Property titled in one spouse's name may still be marital property if acquired with marital funds or during the marriage. Missouri does not presume equal division is fair; instead, judges have discretion to adjust based on the specific facts of each case.
The general definition of Community Property
Property acquired during marriage that is owned equally by both spouses, regardless of who earned it.
Community property is a legal system used in certain states where most assets and income earned during a marriage belong equally to both spouses. It doesn't matter whose name is on the title or who earned the money—the law presumes it's jointly owned. When the marriage ends, community property is typically divided equally between the spouses. Separate property (owned before marriage or inherited) stays with the original owner.
Read the full Community Property entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Missouri.