III. Time of Acquisition

§3.01 Property Acquired Before or During Marriage

The separate or community character of property may be determined in part according to when it was acquired.

Thus, all property owned by a person before marriage is that person's separate property. [FC §770(a)(1).] Except as otherwise provided by statute, real or personal property, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. [FC §760.] Examples of exceptions include gifts or bequests [see FC §770(a)(2)] and earnings while separated [see FC §771].