Community Property in Wyoming
State-specific overview · Family Law
Wyoming does not recognize community property; courts divide marital property equitably based on statutory factors and circumstances.
How Wyoming treats Community Property
Wyoming is an equitable distribution state where property acquired during marriage is marital property subject to fair but not necessarily equal division. The court considers factors such as each spouse's contributions to the marriage, the length of the marriage, and the economic circumstances of each party when dividing marital property. Property owned before marriage, received as a gift or inheritance, or designated as separate by written agreement remains separate property. Wyoming courts have discretion to divide marital property unequally if equity requires it.
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 Wyoming.