Table of Contents
In Arizona, property owned by a spouse before marriage is their separate property. If they transfer an interest to the other spouse, the property status can change to community property. However, actions must be taken that show a clear intention to gift the property to the community. In re Estate of Sims 542 P.2d 1123 (1975), the Court of Appeals discussed this issue.
In the case of the Sims, a surviving wife appealed a ruling that the family home was the separate property of her deceased husband. She argued that her spouse changed the status of the property to community property.
Facts of the Case
Mr. Sims and Mrs. Sims married and lived together in a property husband owned before the marriage. They each had children from prior marriages who also lived with them. Mr. Sims named it to homestead property.
When the husband died, the probate court awarded wife the property for an 18-month period. The court awarded all other interests in the property to the heirs of the husband. Wife appealed.
Transforming Separate Property
All parties agreed that the property belonged to Mr. Sims before the marriage. Therefore, it was his separate property. Under Arizona law, the Court said, property generally keeps its separate property status during a marriage.
Property can become community property, however, by agreement or by operation of law. Here, the wife claims that the house became community property.
In 1966, a court-ordered Mr. Sims to pay a judgment against him secured by the house. If he didn’t pay, he would lose the house. The couple paid the judgment with community funds and recorded a homestead in both their names.
The Court of Appeals found that this did not change the status of the property to community property. It said that it found no evidence that this was the husband’s intention.
Other Evidence of Intention
Mrs. Sims presented evidence that the couple and their children from prior marriages used the house as the family home. They lived there throughout the marriage.
The couple paid the mortgage with community property funds. And Mr. Sims recorded a homestead exemption on the property. The Court of Appeals remained unpersuaded. It said that the wife’s evidence was not sufficient to show a transmutation of the property to community property.
Disposition of Homestead
Arizona law specifies what happens in probate to homestead property that is the separate property of the deceased. Title to the property vests in the heirs of the deceased. However, the probate court can award the use of the property to the surviving spouse for a limited period. Here, the probate court awarded the use of the property to Mrs. Sims for 18 months. The Court of Appeals said that this was not an abuse of discretion.
Conclusion
The Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the lower court.
If you have questions about filing a homestead and separate property in an Arizona divorce case, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona community property and family law attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience successfully representing clients in community property disputes and family law cases.
Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine.
Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona community property or family law case around today.
Other Articles About Community Property in Arizona
- Community Lien on Sole and Separate Property in Arizona
- Community Lien in Arizona
- Community Liens Separate Property in Arizona
- Community Property and Personal Guaranty in Arizona
- Determining Community Versus Sole Property in Arizona
- The difference Between Community and Separate Property in Arizona
- Disclaimer Deed in a Divorce in Arizona
- Divide Retirement Accounts in an Arizona Divorce
- Dividing Property Not Included in Divorce Decree in Arizona
- Division of Debt in an Arizona Divorce
- Do Rules Regarding Property Apply to Debts in an Arizona Divorce
- Enforce Division of Property and Debt in an Arizona Divorce
- Enforcing a Property Settlement Agreement in Arizona
- Filing a Lis Pendens in a Divorce in Arizona
- How is Property Divided in a Divorce in Arizona
- How to Divide Property in Arizona When a Spouse is Hiding Assets
- Is All Property Community Property in Arizona
- Is Arizona a 50 50 State in a Divorce
- Is Separate Property Divided in Arizona Divorce
- Marital Property Laws in Arizona
- Military Retirement Pay and Divorce in Arizona
- Pensions and Divorce in Arizona
- Separate Property Used to Purchase a Home During Marriage in Arizona
- Sole and Separate Property Divorce Arizona
- Is a Spouse Liable for Credit Card Debt in Arizona
- Stock Options Divided in an Arizona Divorce Case
- Stock Options in an Arizona Divorce
- Unequal Division of Property in Arizona Divorce
- Unfair Separation Agreement in Arizona
- Valuation and Distribution Options For Pensions in an Arizona Divorce
- What is Community Property in Arizona
- What is Separate Property in Arizona
What’s Hot – Blog
About the Author: Chris Hildebrand has over 26 years of Arizona family law experience and received awards from US News and World Report, Phoenix Magazine, Arizona Foothills Magazine and others. Visit https://www.hildebrandlaw.com.