Separate Property
Property that belongs to one spouse alone, not to both spouses jointly. Separate property typically includes assets owned before marriage, gifts received by one spouse, and inheritances.
Legal Definition
Property owned by a married person that is not community property or marital property, typically including property acquired before marriage, property received by gift or inheritance, and property traceable to separate property sources.
Practical Example
Before getting married, Tom owned a cabin in the mountains. After marriage, the cabin remains his separate property. However, if he uses marital funds to improve it, some of the increased value might become community/marital property.