Community Property in the

United States

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Carolina Academic PressLaw Advisory Board

❦

Gary J. Simson, ChairmanMercer University School of Law

Raj BhalaUniversity of Kansas School of Law

Davison M. DouglasDean, William and Mary Law School

Paul FinkelmanAlbany Law School

Robert M. JarvisShepard Broad Law CenterNova Southeastern University

Vincent R. JohnsonSt. Mary’s University School of Law

Peter NicolasUniversity of Washington School of Law

Michael A. OlivasUniversity of Houston Law Center

Kenneth L. PortWilliam Mitchell College of Law

H. Jefferson PowellDuke University School of Law

Michael P. ScharfCase Western Reserve University School of Law

Michael Hunter SchwartzDean, William H. Bowen School of LawUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock

Peter M. ShaneMichael E. Moritz College of Law

The Ohio State University

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Community Property in the

United States

Eighth Edition

William A. Reppy, Jr.Charles L. B. Lowndes Emeritus Professor of Law

Duke University

Cynthia A. SamuelW. R. Irby Chair EmeritaTulane University

Sally Brown RichardsonAssistant Professor of Law

Tulane University

Carolina Academic PressDurham, North Carolina

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Copyright © 2015William A. Reppy, Jr.Cynthia A. SamuelSally Brown RichardsonAll Rights Reserved

ISBN 978-1-61163-687-1LCCN 2014954899

Carolina Academic Press700 Kent StreetDurham, North Carolina 27701Telephone (919) 489-7486Fax (919) 493-5668www.cap-press.com

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Table of Cases xiii

Preface xxv

Acknowledgments xxvii

Chapter 1 • Community Property: The Basic Concept and Underlying Policies 3Vaughn, The Policy of Community Property and Inter-Spousal

Transactions 3Powell, Community Property: A Critique of Its Regulation of

Intra-Family Relations 10Notes 11

Chapter 2 • The Nature of Community Ownership 15A. Analogy to a Commercial Partnership or Juristic Entity 15

Fink v. United States 15Notes 17

B. Analogy to Tenancy by Entirety or Tenancy in Common 18Phillipson v. Board of Administration 18Notes 21Problems 22

Chapter 3 • Characterizing Ownership of Property on the Basis of Agreement 25A. Contractual Modification of the Statutory System 25B. Restrictions on Freedom of Contract: Voluntariness and Conscionability 25

Moore v. Moore 26C. Restrictions on Freedom of Contract: Additional Requirements 29

Button v. Button 31D. Express Transmutations 35

Marriage of DewBerry 36Texas Family Code 41Notes 41

E. Implied Transmutations 43O’Connor v. Travelers Insurance Co. 43Notes 45

F. Implying a Transmutation from the Form of Title 46Swink v. Fingado 46Notes 52

G. Retransmutation 55H.Unilateral Transmutations: Interspousal Gifts 55

Marriage of Hrudka 55

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Notes 56I. The Effects of “Title” on Interspousal Gifts 57J. Transmutation and the Rights of Third Parties 58

Jeffers v. Martinez 58Notes 60Problems 60

Chapter 4 • The Role of Presumptions in the Characterization Process 63A. The Presumption of Community Property 631. Basic Presumptions 63

Fidelity & Casualty Co. v. Mahoney 63Lynam v. Vorwerk 64Notes 65

2. Presumptions When Title to Property Changes 67In re Estate of Borghi 67

B. Rebutting the Presumption of Community Property 72Problem 73

Chapter 5 • Establishing Separate Ownership by Manner of Acquisition: Proof of Acquisition by Bequest, Inheritance, or Gift 75

A. Acquisitions by Succession 75Andrews v. Andrews 75Estate of Clark 77Notes 78

B. Acquisition by Gift 79Hamilton v. Hamilton 79Holby v. Holby 79In re Salvini’s Estate 80Notes 83

Chapter 6 • Proving Separate Ownership by Time of Acquisition 87A. Acquisitions Over Period of Time Where Consideration Is Partly Separate, Partly Community 871. Inception of Title vs. Pro Rata Sharing vs. Time of Vesting 87

McCurdy v. McCurdy 87Cosey v. Cosey 89Notes 91

2. Practical Problems in Calculating Pro Rata Shares 933. Apportioning Separate and Community Interests in Pensions 93

Maslen v. Maslen 93Shill v. Shill 97Texas Family Code § 3.007 100Notes 100

4. Stock Option Bonuses and Severance Pay 103Batra v. Batra 103Texas Family Code § 3.007(d) 107Notes 108

5. Life Insurance Policies and Proceeds 109Banner Life Insurance Co. v. Mark Wallace Dixson Irrevocable Trust 110Problems 112

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B. Acquisition after Termination of the Community Regime — What Constitutes Termination 1141. Formal Termination 1142. Living Separate and Apart 114

Aetna Life Insurance Company v. Boober 114Marriage of Jaschke 116Notes 118

Chapter 7 • Property Interests versus Mere Expectancies 121A. Contingent Interests and Expectancies 121

United Association of Journeymen v. Myers 121Marriage of Biddle 122Notes 123Problems 125

B. The “Terminable Interest” Doctrine 126Lack v. Lack 126Schweitzer v. Burch 130Notes 133

Chapter 8 • Acquisitions on Credit 135Winn v. Winn 135Notes 137Problems 140

Chapter 9 • “Improvements” of Separate Property with Community Funds and Vice Versa 143Parker v. Parker 143Notes 145

A. California: Reimbursement and the Buy-In to Title Theory 1481. Improvements of Property 148

California Family Code 148Notes 148

2. Improvements of Separate Property 149Bono v. Clark 149William A. Reppy, Jr., Acquisitions with a Mix of Community and

Separate Funds: Displacing California’s Presumption of Gift by Recognizing Shared Ownership 154

Notes 155B. Texas: Measuring Reimbursement by the Buy-In Formula 155

Texas Family Code 155Notes 157Problems 158

Chapter 10 • Problems of Tracing: Commingling and Uncommingling 161A. Direct Tracing 161B. The Problem of Commingled Assets 162

Marriage of Mix 162Notes 164See v. See 165Notes 167Duncan v. United States 170

CONTENTS vii

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Notes 175C. Commingling of “Trifling” Sums of Community Property 176

Problems 177

Chapter 11 • Rents, Profits, and Increase of Separate Property: Problems of Apportionment 179

A. The Civil Law System 179B. The American System 180C. Approaches to Apportionment Under the American Rule 180

Cockrill v. Cockrill 180Beam v. Bank of America 184Notes 185Marriage of Folb 187Notes 188Cord v. Neuhoff 188Notes 190

D. Apportionment under the Civil Law System 190Speer v. Quinlan 190Swope v. Swope 194Krielow v. Krielow 199Notes 201Marshall v. Marshall 203Notes 205

E. Is There Such a Thing as “Separate” Labor? 207F. Can Rents and Profits in a Civil Law System Be Separately Owned Because They Are a Gift or Bequest? 208

Reynolds v. Reynolds 208Notes 213Problem 214

Chapter 12 • Classification of Recoveries in Tort and Insurance Claims 215A. Damage to Property 215

Trahan v. Trahan 215Notes 216

B. Injury to the Person 217Marriage of Brown 217California Family Code § 2603 221California Family Code § 781 222Notes 222

C. Wrongful Death Recoveries 226Johnson v. Holly Farms of Texas, Inc. 226Notes 227

D. Disability Benefits: In-Lieu Tracing versus Direct Tracing 228Marriage of Elfmont 228Notes 231

E. Recovery by One Spouse from the Other 233California Family Code § 781 233California Family Code § 782 233Problems 234

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Chapter 13 • Characterizing Career Assets 237A. Professional Goodwill 237

Mitchell v. Mitchell 237Nail v. Nail 241Notes 242

B. Fame 245In re Marriage of McTiernan 245Notes 248

C. Educational Degrees, Licensee to Practice, and Increased Earning Capacity 249Muckleroy v. Muckleroy 249Barrow v. Barrow 250California Family Code § 2641 251Notes 252Problems 253

Chapter 14 • Equal Management of Community Property 255A. The Basic Rule 255B. Exceptions to Equal Management Based on “Title” or Recitals in Documents 256

New Mexico Statute § 40-3-14 256Wisconsin Statute § 766.51 257Notes 257

C. Exceptions for Business Enterprises 258California Family Code § 1100(d) 258Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2350 258Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2352 258Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2348 258Notes 259Washington Revised Code § 26.16.030(6) 259Notes 260

D. Contracts and Relationships Not Excepted by Statute from Equal Management 260

E. Separated Spouses 262F. Tax Implications 263

Problems 263

Chapter 15 • Dual Management 265A. Joinder Requirements in Equal Management States 265

King v. Uhlmann 266Klaas v. Haueter 270Notes 274Dynan v. Gallinatti 277Notes 280

B. Dual Management in Texas 281Texas Family Code § 3.102 281Cockerham v. Cockerham 282Chu v. Hong 284Notes 287Problems 289

C. Gifts of Community Property: Dual Management vs. a Reasonableness Test 290

CONTENTS ix

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Ackel v. Ackel 290Horlock v. Horlock 291Notes 293Problems 296

Chapter 16 • Fiduciary Responsibility of a Manager Spouse 297A. Liability for Mismanagement 297

Wisconsin Statutes § 766.15(l) 297California Family Code § 721(b) 297California Family Code § 1100(e) 297Marriage of Lucero 298Notes 300

B. Duty to Account 302Marriage of Valle 302Marriage of Thomas 303Notes 303

C. Interspousal Remedies 3051. Damages for Mismanagement 3052. Judicially Ordered Separation of Property or Change in Management 305

Wisconsin Statutes § 766.70(4)(a) 3063. The “Add-A-Name” Remedy 306

California Family Code § 1101(c) 306Notes 306Problems 307

Chapter 17 • Rights of Creditors to Reach Community and Separate Property 309A. The Managerial System 309

Shel-Boze, Inc. v. Melton 309Texas Family Code § 3.201 311Notes 311

B. Special Problems of the Managerial System of Liability 312l. The Necessaries Doctrine 3122. Debts Incurred before Marriage 313

California Family Code § 911(b) 3133. Tort Obligations 3144. “Pecking Order” of Liability 314

California Family Code § 1000 314Texas Family Code § 3.203 315

5. Debts Secured by Community Security 3156. Procedural Problems 3157. Reimbursement 316

C. The “Community Debt” System 317Babcock v. Tam 317deElche v. Jacobsen 319Clayton v. Wilson 325Notes 327

D. Pre-Divorce Creditors and Post-Divorce Execution 332Twin Falls Bank & Trust Co. v. Holley 332Notes 335

E. Effect of Transmutation Contracts on Creditors 337

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Babcock v. Tam 337Notes 338

F. Bankruptcy 340Notes 342Problems 342

Chapter 18 • Problems at Divorce 347A. Dividing the Community 347

In re Marriage of Fonstein 347Texas Family Code § 7.008 349Irwin v. Irwin 349Notes 350

B. Community Pension Plan Benefits 353Koelsch v. Koelsch 353Notes 355

C. Reimbursement Claims at Divorce 357D. Failure of Divorce Decree to Divide a Community Asset 358

de Carteret v. de Carteret 358E. Procedural Issue: Death During Divorce 360

Oldham v. Oldham 360Notes 364Problems 366

Chapter 19 • Dissolution of the Community by Death 369A. Problems Involving Testamentary Power 3691. Item Theory versus Aggregate Theory 369

In re Estate of Patton 369In re Estate of Kirkes 373Notes 375

2. Will Interpretation 377In re Estate of Wolfe 377Notes 380

B. Dead-Hand Management: Will Substitutes 381Tyre v. Aetna Life Insurance Co. 381Land v. Marshall 384California Probate Code § 5023 387Notes 387Problems 393

Chapter 20 • Invalid Marriage and Cohabitation 395A. Putative Marriage 3951. Application of Community Property Law to Putative Marriages 3952. Dividing the Pie When There Are Two (or More) Wives or Husbands 398

Estate of Hafner 398Notes 408

B. Rights of Cohabiting Couples 409Connell v. Francisco 409Notes 413Problems 416

CONTENTS xi

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Chapter 21 • Community Property in Conflict of Laws 417A. Conflicts between Community Property States 417

Seizer v. Sessions 417Notes 421

B. Change of Domicile Problems: From Common Law to Community Property State 423

Berle v. Berle 423California Probate Code 426Martin v. Martin 428Estate of Hanau v. Hanau 430Notes 433

C. Change of Domicile Problems: From Community Property to Common Law State 437

Quintana v. Ordono 437Notes 438The Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights

at Death Act 440Problems 442

Chapter 22 • Community Property and Constitutional Law 445A. State Constitutional Provisions 4451. Article 16, § 15 of the Texas Constitution 445

Notes 4452. The “Due Course of Law” Clause of the Texas Constitution 447

Cameron v. Cameron 448Notes 450Problems 451

B. Equal Protection 451Credit Bureau of Eastern Idaho, Inc. v. Lecheminant 451Problem 453

C. Due Process of Law and Retroactive Application of Statutes 454In re Marriage of Heikes 454Notes 459Problems 460

D. Preemption under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution 4611. The Process of Federal Preemption 4612. Express Preemption 4613. Implied Preemption 462

Notes 465Mansell v. Mansell 466Notes 470Boggs v. Boggs 471Notes 478Problems 481

Index 483

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Abitz, Marriage of, 330Abraham v. Abraham, 191, 328Ackel v. Ackel, 290Acosta, Succession of, 254Action Collection Serv., Inc. v. Steele, 329Adams, Estate of, 176Addison v. Addison, 429, 460Adduddell v. Board of Administration, 396Aetna Life Insurance Company v. Boober,114Albritton v. Albritton, 344Alfonso v. Alfonso, 295Alford, Marriage of, 125Allard v. Frech, 134Allie, Estate of, 463All-way Leasing, Inc v. Kelly, 275Alphonse Brenner Co. v. Phillips, 312Amador v. Lara, 260Amaraneni v. Amaraneni, 244Anderson, Estate of, 398Anderson v. Idaho Mutual Benefit Ass’n,293Andrews v. Andrews, 75, 207Andrews v. Kelleher, 372Andrews v. Lary, 78Arch, Ltd v. Yu, 276, 280Arnold v. Leonard, 204, 214, 445, 447, 448Ashe, Matter of Estate of, 72Aufmuth, Marriage of, 139, 243, 252, 254Avila v. Gonzales, 414Aymond v. Aymond, 301Babcock v. Tam, 317, 337Baca v. Baca, 227Bachmeier, Estate of, 55, 119Baker v. Baker, 300Bakken v. Bakken, 206Bank of California v. Connolly, 140Bank of Washington v. Hilltop Shakemill,Inc., 328

Bank One, Appleton v. Reynolds, 331Banner Life Insurance Co. v. Mark WallaceDixson Irrevocable Trust, 110Barnett v. Barnett, 478Barnett v. Jedynak, 413Baron v. Baron, 72Barras v. Barras, 157Barrow v. Barrow, 250Batra v. Batra, 103, 176Baum v. Baum, 307Beam v. Bank of America, 183, 184Beam v. Beam, 68, 141, 183, 184Beck v. Beck, 383, 447Beesley v. Beesley, 95Bell v. Bell (ID), 352Bell v. Bell (US), 361Bell, Marriage of, 343Bellingham, Estate of, 109Bellio, Marriage of, 30Belmont v. Belmont, 216Berger, Marriage of, 350Bergman v. State, 320, 343Berle v. Berle, 423, 432, 443Berol v. Berol, 164Berry v. Berry, 99Bianco v. Patterson, 329Biddle, Marriage of, 122, 123Biddulph v. Biddulph, 351Bishop, Marriage of, 108Blaine v. Blaine, 168Blanchard v. Blanchard, 356Bloomer v. Bloomer, 103Bogert, Estate of, 43, 175Boggs v. Boggs, 471, 479Bono v. Clark, 149Bordes v. Bordes, 232Borghi, Estate of, 67, 68Bortle v. Osborne, 16, 333Bothun, Estate of, 391

xiii

Table of Cases

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Bouquet, In re Marriage of, 457Bowart v. Bowart, 42, 58Bowlden v. Bowlden, 225Boyd v. Boyd, 102, 219, 220Boyer, Succession of, 301Boyle v. Boyle, 93, 281, 411Braddock v. Braddock, 433Bradley v. Bradley, 82, 84Branco, Marriage of, 158Brandt v. Brandt, 72, 176Brazosport Bank v. Robertson, 138Bregaugh v. Deane, 108Breliant v. Preferred Equities Corp., 54Brennfleck v. W.C.A.B., 396Brewer, Marriage of, 232Bridgeman & Conway v. Koraer Realty Co.,339Bright, Estate of, v. United States, 263, 290Broadway Drug Store, Inc v. Trowbridge,335Brooks, Marriage of, 254Broussard v. Broussard, 175, 235Brown v. Brown, 397Brown v. Burnside, 276Brown, Marriage of (CA), 125, 130, 261,299, 348, 355Brown, Marriage of (WA), 217, 224, 225,235Brubaker v. Hovde, 329Brumbaugh v. Pet, Inc., 227Buckley v. Buckley, 408Bugh v. Bugh, 223, 224Burford v. Burford, 73Burks v. Apfel, 397Burns, Marriage of, 214Butler v. Butler, 23, 158Butler, Ex parte, 302Button v. Button, 30, 31Byerley v. Cail, 413Byrd v. Babin, 208Byrd v. Blanton, 280Byrd v. Lanahan, 373, 376C & L Lumber & Supply Co. v. Texas Amer-ican Bank/Galeria, 54C. Forsman Real Estate Co. v. Hatch, 275Cadwell v. Cadwell, 343Cajun Capital, Inc. v. Bourque, 275Camara v. Camara, 439Cameron v. Cameron (AZ), 147

Cameron v. Cameron (TX), 430–432, 448Campbell v. Campbell, 316Campbell v. Sandy, 276Campbell, Marriage of, 243Caplan v. Sullivan, 330Cardwell v. Cardwell, 397Cargill v. Hancock, 137, 139Carlson v. McCall, 66Carnes v. Meador, 295Carroll v. Lee, 414Carroll v. Puritan Leasing Co., 315Carpenter, Marriage of, 148Carter v. Carter, 73, 143, 421Casa del Ray v. Hart, 331Casady v. Modern Metal Spinning & Man-ufacturing Co., 21Casas v. Thompson, 465, 466, 468Caswell, Estate of, 66Catalano v. United States, 389Cavenaugh, Estate of v. Commissioner, 109Cayce v. Carter Oil Co., 421Cearley v. Cearley, 127, 129, 355Cervantes v. Maco Gas Co., 228Chala, Marriage of, 352Chavez v. Chavez, 50, 52, 101Chu v. Hong, 284Chumbley v. Beckman, 107Clark v. Foster, 225Clark, Estate of, 77, 149, 161Clayton v. Wilson, 325Cleaver v. George Staton Company, Inc.,213Cockerham v. Cockerham, 282Cockrill v. Cockrill, 80, 180Cohen, Marriage of, 304Collins v. Bryan, 158Commission v. Dunkin, 357Commissioner v. Chase Manhattan Bank,296Commissioner v. Porter, 213Commissioner v. Siegel, 391Commissioner v. Skaggs, 422Commonwealth v. Terjen, 439Compton v. Compton, 300, 302Coney v. Coney, 66Conley v. Moe, 147, 158Conley v. Quinn, 176Conn v. Davis, 380Connell v. Connell, 109

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Connell v. Francisco, 409Connolly, Marriage of, 302Consumers Ins. Co. v. Cimoch, 281Cook v. Cook, 128, 145, 224, 414Cooke, Estate of v. Cooke, 52, 58Cooper v. Texas Gulf Industries Inc., 282,283Cooper, Estate of, 372, 380Cooper’s Mobile Homes, Inc. v. Simmons,274Cord v. Neuhoff, 188, 190Cordova v. Harrah’s Reno Hotel-Casino,261Cosey v. Cosey, 89Cox v. Cox, 243Crawford, Estate of, 30Credit Bureau of E. Idaho v. Lecheminant,329, 451Credit Bureau of Santa Monica Bay Districtv. Terranova, 315Cross v. Cross, 92, 320, 397Crouch v. Richardson, 92Crystal Palace Gambling Hall, In re, 274Cudworth, Estate of, 176Cumming v. Johnson, 287Cummings v. Anderson, 92Cummings v. Cummings, 61, 92, 232Cummings v. Weast, 61Cunningham, Marriage of, 36Cupp, Marriage of, 224Curry, Estate of James E., 93Curtis v. Curtis, 91, 140, 179Daigre v. Daigre, 206, 208Dalton v. Don J. Jackson, Inc., 288Dalton v. Superior Court, Pima County,264D’Ambrosio, Estate of, 391Danielson v. Evans, 470Danley, In re, 342Dargie v. Patterson, 375Darwish v. Darwish, 84Davis v. Davis, 409Davis v. Employment Security Dept., 411Davis, Succession of, 42Dawley, Marriage of, 25Dawson v. Garcia, 224de Carteret v. de Carteret, 358, 364Dean v. Goldwire, 395DeBlane v. Hugh Lynch & Co., 206

Decker, Marriage of, 186deElche v. Jacobsen, 319, 325, 333Delevan v. Thom, 380Delph v. Potomac Insurance Co., 22Demoruelle v. Allen, 375Dempsey v. Oliver, 336Denney, Marriage of, 190Depas v. Mayo, 439Depner v. Depner, 244Dept. of Retirement Systems v. Arnold,134DeRevere v. DeRevere, 125, 355DeSantis v. Wackenhut Corp., 421Desfosses v. Desfosses, 104, 216Dessommes v. Dessommes, 92DewBerry, Marriage of, 36–38Diafos, In re, 40, 339Dillingham v. Dillingham, 191, 207, 415Dinger v. Shea, 261Doherty, Marriage of, 126Dokmanovic v. Schwarz, 446Dominguez v. Crux, 414Dorbin v. Dorbin, 157, 158, 169Dotson v. Grice, 277Douglas v. Douglas, 232, 325, 423, 425Downer v. Bramet, 123Drahos v. Rens, 157Drapeau, Marriage of, 108Drinkwater v. American Family Mut. Ins.,422Droeger v. Friedman, Sloan, and Ross, 280Due v. Due, 93Duggan v. Superior Court, 23Dunbar v. Bejarano, 439Duncan v. U.S., 170, 175, 176Duncan, Estate of, 64, 170Dunham, Succession of, 92, 422Dunn v. Dunn, 102, 167Dynan v. Gallinatti, 277Edwards v. Edwards, 138, 439, 453Edwards v. Heckler, 453Egelhoff v. Egelhoff, 478Eggemeyer v. Eggemeyer, 351, 447, 448Elam, Marriage of, 158Eldon v. Sheldon, 415Elfmont, Marriage of, 109, 228Ellis v. Ellis, 79, 89, 125Eng v. Stein, 331Epstein, Marriage of, 169, 350

TABLE OF CASES xv

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Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Crysler,478Erbelding, Succession of, 177Estes, Marriage of, 93Ettefagh, Marriage of, 72Evans v. Evans, 181, 208, 284, 470Execu-Systems, Inc. v. Corlis, 275Facter, Marriage of, 25Fajkus v. First National Bank of Giddings,288Falk v. Falk, 64, 176Fanning v. Fanning, 446Farman v. Farman, 343Farver v. Department of RetirementSystems, 133Fastabend v. Fastabend, 300Federal Underwriters Exchange v. Walker,227Ferguson, Succession of, 175, 176Fernandez v. Fernandez, 329Few v. Charter Oak Fire Insurance Co., 223Ficke, Marriage of, 162Fidelity & Casualty Co. v. Mahoney, 63,161Finch v. Finch, 242, 244Finck v. Finck, 84, 375Fingado, In re, 46, 341Fink v. United States, 15Finley v. Finley (WA), 138, 139Finley v. Finley (WI), 58Finn v. Finn, 244Finns Estate, In re, 138First Federal S. & L, v. Delta Towers, 289First Nat’l Bank v. Abraham, 328Fischer, Marriage of, 141Fisk, Marriage of, 226Fletcher v. Jackson, Estate of, 50, 52Flores v. Flores, 226, 233Flores v. Brown, 226Flowers v. Flowers, 84Flynn v. Allender, 147Folb, Marriage of, 186, 187Foley, Marriage of, 243Fonstein, Marriage of, 239, 240, 347, 351Ford v. Ford, 139, 242Forrest v. Forrest, 114Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railway v.Robertson, 396Foster, Marriage of, 240, 357

Fowler v. Fowler, 139, 388Fox, In re Marriage of, 55Francis v. Francis, 275, 388Francom v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 343Frausto v. Frausto, 249, 252Free v. Bland, 463, 474Freehe v. Freehe, 217, 218, 220, 233Frick, Marriage of, 154, 164Friedlander v. Friedlander, 40Frymire v. Brown, 78Furr, Estate of, 393Gaethje v. Gaethje, 109, 373, 376GAF Corp. v. Diamond Carpet Corp., 328Gagan v. Monroe, 331Gage v. Gage, 38Gannon v. Robinson, 344Gantner v. Johnson, 280Gapsch v. Gapsch, 45, 137, 192, 198, 202Garceau, Marriage of, 108Garcia v. Mayer, 108Gardner v. Gardner, 146, 330Garduno v. Garduno, 395Garn v. Garn, 290Garret v. Garret, 93Gathright v. Smith, 397Geesbreght v. Geesbreght, 244Geffen v. Moss, 243Gemma v. Gemma, 356General Motors Corp. v. Eighth JudicialDistrict Court, 421General Tire Service v. Nash, 313Geoghegan v. Dever, 280George v. Ransom, 180Geronimo Hotel & Lodge v. Putzi, 280Gerow v. Covill, 243, 373Gerow, Marriage of, 294Gessner v. Gessner, 252Giacomazzi v. Rowe, 92Giesler v. Giesler, 177Gillespie v. Gillespie, 186Gillmore, Marriage of, 99, 354Givens v. Girard Life Insurance Co., 292,293, 388Glover v. Henry, 54, 138Goines v. Goines, 57Goldring’s Inc. v. Seeling, 313Goldstein, Marriage of, 351Golub v. Golub, 253Gradow v. United States, 391

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Graham v. Franco, 223, 447, 448Graham v. Graham, 99, 186Graves v. Graves, 39Greenwald v. Greenwald, 30, 227Greer, Marriage of, 169Griggs v. Averbeck Realty, Inc., 336Grinius, Marriage of, 138Griswold, Marriage of, 107Grolemund v. Cafferata, 311Grossnickle v. Grossnickle, 352Gudelj v. Gudelj, 53, 137, 138Gulstine, Estate of, 169Gutierrez v. Gutierrez, 207Gutierrez, Marriage of, 304Carlton v. Estate of Estes, 315Haack, Marriage of, 305Hackl, Estate of, 133Hadrych v. Hadrych, 470Hafner, Estate of, 398, 400Haley v. Highland, 328, 330Hall v. Hall (CA), 40Hall v. Hall (ID), 73Hall, Marriage of, 245Hallenback v. Hallenback, 350Halverson v. Halverson, 113, 357Hamilton v. Hamilton, 79Hamlin v. Merlino, 40, 304Hanau v. Hanau, Estate of, 430Hand v. Hand, 435, 436Hand v. Superior Court, 23Hanks v. Sawtelle Rentals, Inc., 264Hanley v. Most, 294Hanrahan v. Sims, 147Hansel v. Holyfield, 108Hansford v. Lassar, 340Hardin v. Hardin, 84, 85Hardin, Marriage of, 118Hardy v. United States, 42, 481Hare v. Hodgins, 101Harper v. Harper, 295, 364Harrell v. Harrell, 364Harrington, Marriage of, 350Harris v. Harris (CA), 295Harris v. Harris (TX), 72Harrison v. Holland, 351Hatcher v. Hatcher, 232Haugan, Marriage of, 253Hawkins v. Superior Court, 264Hay, Marriage of, 351

Haynes v. Stripling, 36Heath v. Heath, 253Hegg v. Internal Revenue Service, 329Heikes, Marriage of, 454Heintz v. Brown, 138Henkle, Marriage of, 113Henn v. Henn, 364Herrera v. Health & Social Services, 22Hertz v. Hertz, 240, 243Hester v. Harris, 453Hiatt v. Hiatt, 105, 146, 183, 208Hickey v. Griggs, 147Hickmans Estate, In re, 216Hicks v. Hicks (CA), 163, 164, 168Hicks v. Hicks (TX), 224Higgason, Marriage of, 31Hilke, Marriage of, 454, 456Hillman v. Maretta, 478Hines v. Hines, 330Hirales v. Boegen, 344Hisquierdo v. Hisquierdo, 462, 464, 468,472Hoak v. Hoak, 253Holbrook v. Holbrook, 93, 238, 240, 245Holby v. Holby, 79Holland v. Barrios, 275Holliday v. Holliday, 31Holloway v. Holloway, 138, 307Holmes v. Beatty, 43Holmes v. Holmes, 43, 54, 370Hopkins, Marriage of, 352Hoppe v. Godeke, 479Horlock v. Horlock, 176, 291Household Finance Corp. v. Smith, 17Houska v. Houska, 66, 169Hrudka, Marriage of, 55Huddleson v. Huddleson, 365Hug, Marriage of, 108Hughes v. Hughes, 432, 435, 449Hull, Estate of, v. Williams, 111, 294Hullett’s Estate, In re, 175Huls v. Huls, 224Humphrey v. Humphrey, 207Hunt v. Hunt, 164, 242Hurd v. Hurd, 140Hurley v. Hurley, 242, 243ICA, State ex rel. v. Wright, 339Imperato, Marriage of, 186Inman, Estate of, 61

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Irwin v. Irwin, 349Ismail v. Ismail, 430, 450Izinna v. Izinna, 389J.D. O’Malley & Co. v. Lewis, 344Jacobellis v. Ohio, 208Jacobs, In re, 88Janes v. LeDeit, 276Janssen’s Estate, In re, 43Jaschke, Marriage of, 116Jeffers v. Martinez, 58Jefferson Lake Sulphur Co. v. Walet, 481Jemko, Inc. v. Liaghat, 331Jennings v. Goldsby, 73Jensen v. Jensen, 206Joaquin, Marriage of, 92Johns v. Retirement Fund Trust, 261Johnson v. Dar Denne, 57Johnson v. Holly Farms of Texas, Inc., 226Johnson v. Johnson (AZ), 140Johnson v. Johnson (NV), 183, 189Johnson v. Wetherspoon, 133Jones v. Edwards, 138Jones v. Jones (NM), 182Jones v. Jones (TX), 138Jones v. Rigdon, 84Josephson v. Josephson, 146Jurek v. Jurek, 118, 220Kahn v. Shevin, 453Karlin, Marriage of, 124Kearney v. Solomon Smith Barney, Inc.,422Kee v. Francis Camel Construction, 275Keen v. Weaver, 478Keene v. Edie, 328Kees v. Kees, 108Keeven, Matter of Estate of, 42Keith v. Keith, 244Kelly v. Kelly, 123, 275, 465Kerley v. Kerley, 58Kern v. United States, 43Kesler v. Pabst, 225Kessler’s Estate, in re, 439Kilcup v. McManus, 320, 344King, Estate of, 380King v. Cancienne, 395King v. Uhlmann, 266Kirchberg v. Feenstra, 451Kircher v. Kircher, 53Kirkes, In re Estate of, 373

Kizer v. Commissioner, 16Klaas v. Haueter, 270, 273Kobylski, Estate of, 146Koelsch v. Koelsch, 98, 239, 351, 353Koenig v. Bishop, 293Kohler v. Kohler, 465Kohny v. Dunbar, 18, 268Kolmorgan v. Schaller, 40Koontz v. Koontz, 39Krattiger v. Krattiger, 66Krempin, In re, 470Krielow v. Krielow, 199Krueger v. Williams, 320, 375Kruse, Estate of, 53Kunakoff v. Woods, 396, 407Kyson v. Kyson, 207La Tourette v. La Tourette, 21, 374, 379Lack v. Lack, 126, 243, 447Lambert v. Peoples National Bank, 52LaMon v. Butler, 23Land v. Marshall, 384Land, Succession of, 209Landauer v. Landauer, 481Lange, Marriage of, 301Langeland, Estate of, 413Lanza v. Lanza, 126Lawson v. Ridgeway, 146Lawson, Marriage of, 108Lazzarevich v. Lazzarevich, 396Leasefirst v. Borrelli, 339Lebeck v. Lebeck, 30LeBlanc v. LeBlanc, 284, 317LeBlanc v. Waller, 284Lee v. Lee, 128, 395Lee, Estate of, 263Lehman, Marriage of, 108Lemke v. Lemke, 214Lepel v. Lepel, 83, 136Lesh v. Lesh, 277Lewis v. Lewis, 58, 344, 351Liddle v. Liddle, 351Lifshutz v. Lifshutz, 207Lindsey v. Lindsey, 357, 411Linton v. Linton, 304Lionberger, Marriage of, 298, 357Lipsey v. Lipsey, 214Lockwood v. Mattingly, 275Logan, Estate of, 110, 112Lombardi v. Lombardi, 145

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Lopez, Marriage of, 185, 238Lorenz-Auxier Financial Group v. Bidewell,328,Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad v. Um-baugh, 227Louisiana State Employees Retirement Sys-tem v. McWilliams, 133, 479Louknitsky v. Louknitsky, 54Lovetro v. Steers, 53Lowell, Marriage of, 133Lozoya v. Sanchez, 415Lucas v. Lucas, 243Lucas, Marriage of, 58, 454, 455Lucero, Marriage of, 124, 298Lucini v. Lucini, 185Lund, Marriage of, 41Lusk, Marriage of, 67Lynam v. Vorwerk, 64Lynch v. Lynch, 118, 206MacCollum v. Perkinson, 274MacDonald, Estate of, 35, 42MacKenzie v. Sellner, 115, 344Maestas v. Overton, 233Magee v. Amiss, 316Magnin, Estate of v. Commissioner, 391Malich v. Malich, 66Malmquist v. Malmquist, 145, 164Malotte v. Gorton, 328Mamula v. McCulloch, 275Manning v. Hayes, 478Mansell v. Mansell, 466, 468Maples v. Nimitz, 36, 446Mark v. Title Guaranty & Trust Co., 280Marsden, Marriage of, 150–155Marsh v. Wallace, 108Marshall v. Marshall, 203Marshall v. Superior Court, 66Marshall, State ex rel. v. Superior Court,66Marston v. Rue, 281, 371Martin v. Martin (AZ), 305, 428Martin v. Martin (KY), 385Martin v. Martin (TX), 28Martin v. Martin (WA), 359Martin, Marriage of, 73Martinez v. Posner, Martinez, & Padgett,366Marvin v. Marvin, 199, 398, 414Maslen v. Maslen, 93, 101

Mason, Marriage of, 225Mathews v. Mathews, 395Mausing v. Mausing, 133McAffee v. McAffee, 158McAlpine v. McAlpine, 25, 31McCaffrey v. Benson, 397McCarty v. McCarty, 462, 466, 470McClanahan v. Arizona State Tax Comm’n,481McConathy v. McConathy, 250, 344McCoy v. Winn-Dixie Louisiana, Inc., 313McCune v. Essig, 462McCurdy v. McCurdy, 87, 92McDonald v. Paine, 213McElyea v. McElyea, 183McGlone v. McGlone, 84McKinney v. Boyle, 281McKissick v. McKissick, 43McLean, Interest of, 451McMorris v. McMorris, 158McReath v. McReath, 245McTiernan, Marriage of, 245Medenco, Inc. v. Myklebust, 364Mejia v. Reed, 336Meltzer v. Wendell-West, 275Menchaca v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 405Messer, Estate of, 118Metz v. Keener, 206Mezey v. Fioramonti, 293Michel v. Michel, 126Michelson v. Michelson, 51Michie v. Calhoun, 225Milton v. Milton, 46Milton, Succession of, 140Miracle, Marriage of, 147Misic v. Building Service Employees Health& Welfare Trust, 461Mitchell v. Mitchell (AZ), 237Mitchell v. Mitchell (NM), 164, 169Mitchell, Estate of, 43Mix, Marriage of, 54, 162Moore, Estate of, 379, 380Moore, Marriage of, 150,151, 152, 153,154Moore v. Moore (NM), 169, 301, 302Moore v. Moore (TX), 26Moore, In re Marriage of, 150, 152–154Morrissey v. Kirkelie, 222Mortensen’s Estate, In re, 374, 397

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Moser v. Moser, 43Moucka v. Windham, 343Muckleroy v. Muckleroy, 249, 252Muller, Marriage of, 73Munchow v. Munchow, 176Mundell v. Stellmon, 293Mundell, Estate of v. Mundell, 293Munson v. Haye, 294Munson v. Munson, 145, 294Murff v. Murff, 351Murphy v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.,18, 292, 300Murphy, Estate of, 164, 380Nail v. Nail, 239, 241, 244Neely v. Neely, 58Neibaur v. Neibaur, 202, 207Neilson, Estate of, 166, 182Nelson v. Nelson, 181, 182Nelson, Marriage of, 108Nereson, Estate of, 216Nevins v. Nevins, 380New Mexico Right to Choose/NARAL v.Johnson, 451Newland v. Newland, 170Newman v. Newman, 385, 440Newman, Estate of, 385, 390Nicaud v. Fonte, 280Nichols Hills Bank v. McCool, 272, 273,293, 296, 328, 329Noble v. Noble, 176, 177Nobles v. Meyer Greenwald ConstructionCo., 227Noe v. Card, 84Noghrey, Marriage of, 30Norris v. Vaughn, 205–207Northern Commercial Co. v. E.J. HermannCo., 331Norviel, Marriage of, 118Novo v. Hotel Del Rio, 294Oak Knoll Broadcasting Corp. v. Hudgings,340O’Brien v. O’Brien, 253O’Connor v. Travelers Insurance Co., 43Odone v. Marzocchi, 383, 393Offshore Rental Co. v. Continental Oil Co.,422Ogden v. Ogden, 164, 299Oil Heat Co. v. Sweeney, 115, 331Oldham v. Oldham, 360

Oliver v. Fowler, 336, 431Olson, Marriage of, 324, 351Ordlock v. Comm’r of Internal Revenue,479Osuna v. Quintana, 397Otero v. Wheeler, 275Owens v. Andrews, 380Pacific States Cut Stone Co. v. Goble, 422Pacific-Gamble Robinson Co. v. Lapp, 422,423Padilla v. Roller, 274Paley v. Bank of America, 434Pan American Import Co. v. Buck, 305,306Pangburn v. Pangburn, 126Panozzo v. Panozzo, 66Pappas v. Pappas, 84, 269Parada v. Parada, 133Parker v. Parker, 143Parker, Marriage of, 42Patton, Estate of, 323, 369, 380Paxton v. Bramlette, 333Payne v. Williams, 344Pearce v. Pearce, 244Peerenboom v. Peerenboom, 245Peffley-Warner v. Bowen, 415Pendleton v. Brown, 268People ex rel. Dunbar v. Bejarano, 439People v. Delph, 415People v. Llamas, 264Pereira v. Pereira, 183, 189Perez v. Perez (TX), 114, 129Perez v. Perez (WI), 218, 221Perkins v. Perkins, 470Perras v. Perras, 232Person-Maines, Marriage of, 147Peters v. Peters, 53Peterson v. Peterson (ID), 423, 425, 479Peterson v. Peterson (TX), 165Peterson, Marriage of, 479Phillips v. Wellhorn, 109Phillipson v. Board of Administration, 18Phoenix Arbor Plaza Ltd v. Dauderman,421Piscopo v. Piscopo, 248Pittman v. Pomeroy, 399Polk v. Polk, 294Pollock v. Pollock, 168Poole v. Schrichte, 324, 396

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Poppe, Marriage of, 103Porter v. MacLeod, 92Porter v. Porter, 169, 176, 182Portillo v. Shappie, 146Portwood v. Portwood, 395Powers v. Powers, 232, 383Preiss v. Preiss, 125Price v. Price, 77, 233, 366Prince v. Freeman, 397Prince v. Hopson, 408Prudential Insurance Co. v. Burke, 364Pryor v. Pryor, 73Quintana v. Ordono, 437Ramsey v. Ramsey, 95, 422Rao v. Rao, 244Raphael v. Bloomfield, 224Ratcliff, Succession of, 144, 293Rathmell v. Morrison, 244Rau v. Rau, 424, 431, 433Rayne State Bank and Trust Co. v. Fruge,315Reaney v. Reaney, 304Rebouche v. Anderson, 397Reckart v. Arva Valley Air, Inc., 329Recknor, Marriage of, 398Reed v. Loney, 328Reed v. Nevins, 380Reed v. Reed (ID), 73Reed v. Reed (US), 452Reeves v. Reeves, 206Regents of the University of California v.Benford, 134Reid v. Cramer, 275Reimann v. United States, 275Resler, Estate of, 375Reynolds v. Reynolds, 208, 331, 416Richards v. Richards, 224Richardson v. Richardson, 343Richmond v. Richmond, 207Rivers v. Central & South West Corp., 481Rivers v. Rivers, 302, 481Roberts v. State Board of Embalmers andFuneral Directors, 249Roberts v. Roberts (LA), 304Roberts v. Roberts (TX), 165Robertson v. Willis, 460Rockwell, Marriage of, 101, 465, 466Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 479Roe v. Ludtke Trucking, Inc., 411, 415

Roesch, In re Marriage of, 429Rogers v. Yellowstone Park Co., 220, 233Roper v. Jeoffroy Manufacturing, Inc., 289Rose v. Rose (ID), 135Rose v. Rose (US), 463, 468Roselli v. Rio Com. Service Station, 293Rothwell v. Rothwell, 470Routh v. Routh, 409Rowe v. Rowe, 92, 185Rupert v. Stienne, 233Russell v. Williams, 216Saacks v. Saacks, 397Safley v. Bates, 55Salvini’s Estate, In re, 80Samaritan Health Systems v. Caldwell, 313Sanchez v. Sanchez, 72, 415Saslow, Marriage of, 229–231Saviers v. Saviers, 243Saxon v. Riddel, 289Scanlon, Marriage of, 66Scheidel v. Scheidel, 470Schexnayder v. Schexnayder, 257Schlaefer v. Financial Management Services,339Schlueter v. Schlueter, 285, 295Schmanski v. Schmanski, 53, 57Schultz, Marriage of, 299Schweitzer v. Burch, 130, 356Scott v. Commissioner, 393Scoville v. Keglor, 216Sedlock, Marriage of, 146See v. See, 165, 169, 184, 189Seizer v. Sessions, 118, 417, 418Self v. Self, 233Seligman v. Seligman, 155Sellers v. Allstate Insurance Co., 45Sertic v. Sertic, 101Sharp Furniture, Inc. v. Buckstaff, 313Sharp v. Sharp, 169, 313Shattuck, Marriage of, 357Shaw v. Greer, 270, 344Shel-Boze, Inc. v. Melton, 309Sheldon, Estate of, 36Sheppard v. Sheppard, 481Sherman, Marriage of, 155Shill v. Shill, 95–97, 356Shovlain v. Shovlain, 136, 137, 145Siberell v. Siberell, 50Siddall v. Haight, 92

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Simplot v. Simplot, 95, 195–197, 203, 334Sims v. Sims, 92, 103, 124, 147Slater v. Culpepper, 176Slater, In re Marriage of, 239, 240Small v. Harper, 295, 364Smedberg v. Bevilockway, 22Smith v. Dalton, 312Smith, Marriage of (CA), 470Smith, Marriage of (WA), 426Smith v. Smith (CA), 77Smith v. Smith (TX), 175Snyder v. Tucson Police Public Safety Per-sonnel Ret. System Bd., 133Sommerfield v. Sommerfield, 58, 73Somps v. Somps, 301, 316Sousa v. Freitas, 396, 403, 409Sparkling, Estate of, v. Commissioner, 391Spearman v. Spearman, 397Spector v. Spector, 182, 293, 354Speer v. Quinlan, 98, 136, 137, 190, 195,197Spokane Merchants Association v.Olmstead, 334, 335, 343Sprengar v. Sprenger, 43Springer v. Commissioner, 55St Mary’s Hospital Medical Center v. Brody,313Stabbert v. Atlas Imperial Diesel EngineCo., 280Stahl v. Stahl, 98, 162State v. Clark, 313State v. Miller, 40Statham v. Statham, 244Steinberger, Marriage of, 42, 108Stenquist, Marriage of, 232, 298Stewart Title v. Huddleston, 336Stewart v. Bank of Endicott, 388Stewart v. Stewart (CA), 18, 20Stewart v. Stewart (ID), 111Stockdale v. Stockdale, 45Stockman, Estate of, 54Stokes v. Pulley, 352Strassner, In re, 471Strickland, In re, 342Stueber v. Pickard, 277Suther v. Suther, 243Sutton v. Champagne, 227Sweitzer, In re, 341Swinford v. Allied Finance Co., 343

Swink v. Fingado, 46, 392Swope v. Swope, 194, 206, 277T.L. James & Co. v. Montgomery, 101, 109,364, 388Tabassi v. NBC Bank – San Antonio, 295Talbot v. Talbot, 72Tarver v. Tarver, 169Taylor Distributing Co. v. Haines, 280Taylor, Marriage of, 123, 461Texas Employers Insurance Association v.Grimes, 396Texas Farmers Ins. Co. v. Murphy, 22Theep v. Commissioner, 16Thomas v. Rhodes, 288Thomas v. Thomas, 206, 223, 288, 344Thomas, Marriage of, 303Thrash v. Thrash, 103Tippen v. Carroll, 147Todd v. McColgan, 185Todd v. Commissioner, 185Toivonen v. Toivonen, 169Tolman v. Smith, 54Trahan v. Trahan (LA 1980 case), 215Trahan v. Trahan (LA 2012 case), 31Travelers Insurance Co. v. Johnson, 43Treadwell v. Henderson, 276Trierweiler, Estate of, 169, 186Twin Falls Bank & Trust Co. v. Holley, 332Tyre v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., 381U.S. v. Conn, 313, 380U.S. v. Elfer, 343U.S. v. McConkey, 276U.S. v. Righter, 392U.S. v. Yazell, 462Unigard Insurance Group v. Royal GlobeInsurance Co., 421Union Sec. Co. v. Smith, 38United Ass’n of Journeymen v. Myers, 121United Bank of Arizona v. Allyn, 328Vail v. Toftness, 226, 233Valle, Marriage of, 302Vallone v. Miller, 288Van Camp v. Van Camp, 183, 188Vanwassenhove v. Vanwassenhove, 146Vardell, Estate of v. Commissioner, 392Vasey v. Snohomish County, 224Venie v. United States, 43Verbeek, In re Estate of, 42Videau, Succession of, 176

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Viola, Succession of, 67Vogt v. Vogt, 30Volz v. Zang, 67, 83Vryonis, Marriage of, 398Wahlefeld, Estate of, 36Waite v. Waite, 130, 132, 134Wakefield, Marriage of, 145Waldeck v. Hedden, 276Walker v. Fowler, 139Walker v. Walker, 101, 139, 227, 397Walker v. Walker’s Estate, 397Wall, Marriage of, 119, 253Walrath v. Walrath, 148Walsh, Estate of, 56Walsh v. Reynolds, 416Warren v. Washington Trust Bank, 328Warren, Marriage of, 155, 302–303Washburn v. Washburn, 253Waterhouse v. Star Land Co., 408Waters v. Double L., Inc., 257Waters v. Waters, 93, 257Watson v. Duce, 366Watters v. Doud, 336Watts v. Watts, 414Webb, Marriage of, 232Weekes v. Weekes, 228Wegley, Estate of, 370, 371, 380Weiner v. Weiner, 253Weiss v. Weiss, 93, 191Welch v. State, 397Werker v. Knox, 319, 320, 344West v. Ortego, 223Western Community Bank v. Helmer, 411,415Western States Constr., Inc. v. Michoff,414White’s Estate, In re, 66Whiting v. Dow Chem Co., 481Whorton v. Dillingham, 415Wierzchula v. Wierzchula, 138Wikes v. Smith, 339Wilder v. Wilder, 357Williams Estate, In re, 18, 216Williams v. McKnight, 446Williams v. Portland State Bank, 288Williams v. Steves Industries, Inc., 223Williams v. Williams (CA) 300, 304Williams v. Williams (LA) 108Williams v. Williams (TX) 25, 447

Williams, Marriage of, 25, 111, 223, 304Wilson v. Sullivan, 42Wilson v. Wilson (CA), 66Wilson v. Wilson (WI), 232Wilson, Estate of, 42, 373, 376Windauer v. O’Connor, 233Winger v. Pianka, 446Winn v. Winn, 135Winn, Marriage of, 190Winston’s Will, In re, 169Wisner v. Wisner, 238, 239, 244Wisnom v. McCarthy, 313Wissner v. Wissner, 461, 463, 469Wittkowski v. State, 421Wolfe, Estate of, 377, 378, 383Wolff v. Hoaglund, 23Wolff v. Wolff, 23, 134Wolford v. Wolford, 46, 252Wood v. Wood, 63, 105, 364, 382Worth, Marriage of, 478Wright v. Wright, 339, 375, 385, 421Wright, Marriage of, 421Yauger v. Skiing Enterprises, Inc., 264Yearout v. American Pipe & Steel Corp.,280Yiatchos v. Yiatchos, 370, 464York, Marriage of, 84, 208Young v. Young (LA), 464Young v. Young (TX), 351 Younger v. Younger, 158Zagorski v. Zagorski, 169Zahm, Marriage of, 140Zamiatowski v. Zamiatowski, 157Zelinger v. State Sand & Gravel Co., 233Zernott v. Hobbie, 312Zisblatt v. Zisblatt, 207

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Preface

According to the 2010 Census, more than 308 million people live in the United States.Of that population, approximately 92 million people reside in Arizona, California, Idaho,Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Put another way,almost thirty percent of the United States population lives in a community property ormarital property jurisdiction. Given the nomadic nature of modern society, even moreindividuals are impacted by community property laws. As spouses move from state tostate, they acquire community property while working in Houston, Los Angeles, NewOrleans, or Seattle, even if they do not ultimately remain in the city. A son living inOklahoma may be affected by community property when his mother passes away in NewMexico. A New York investor who acquires a mineral interest in northern Louisiana maynot realize that community property laws may affect her profits. Understanding howcommunity property operates is of growing importance for lawyers and laymen alike.

This book strives to provide an in-depth analysis of community property law in eachof the eight community property states — Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada,New Mexico, Texas, and Washington — and the one marital property state — Wisconsin.In doing so, readers may view the book as being grouped into five main subjects: Chapters1 and 2 give an overview of what is community property; Chapters 3 through 13 examinedifferent issues that arise in classifying property as community or separate; Chapters 14through 17 highlight topics concerning the management of community property; Chapters18 through 20 concern how community property is divided at the dissolution of the com-munity; and Chapters 21 and 22 address external impacts on community property regimes.

As with past editions, the cases and statutes have been edited to facilitate teaching.Editorial omissions from cases are not noted by ellipses in order to save space and minimizeconfusion. Pertinent footnotes in cases have been retained by using the same number thefootnote had in the original opinion. Notes of the editors are denoted by an asterisk.

Sally Brown RichardsonJanuary 2015

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Acknowledgments

There are few greater things an author can ask for than to sign on to a book of thetop-notch quality of Community Property in the United States. Any success of this editionand future editions is due predominantly to the previous authors. Professors William A.Reppy, Jr. and William Q. DeFuniak began publishing this book in 1975 through MichieCompany. Following the passing of Professor DeFuniak, my own mentor, colleague, andfriend, Professor Cynthia A. Samuel, joined Professor Reppy in writing the next six editionsof this book with Michie Company (second edition), Lupus Publications, Ltd. (third,fourth, and fifth editions), and Carolina Academic Press (sixth and seventh editions).Through these editions, Professors Reppy and Samuel produced a superb product thatgave law students, scholars, and practitioners a rich, comprehensive, comparative perspectiveon community property laws throughout the United States. I remain forever grateful toboth Professors Reppy and Samuel for all of their work, and look forward to continuingtheir efforts to educate future and current lawyers about community property.

My appreciation goes to Dean David D. Meyer and Tulane Law School for supportingand encouraging me to take on this project. This edition could not have been possiblewithout the excellent research assistance of Jeanne L. Amy, Colleen Snow, and Leon H.Whitten.

Finally, my heartfelt gratitude goes to the better half of my own community, RonaldJ. Scalise Jr., and our wonderful daughter, Samantha. Their unending love and supporthas made this edition and all of my professional endeavors possible.

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