Under Texas law, spouses can enter into partition or exchange agreements in which one spouse transfers all or part of their present or soon-to-be-acquired community property to the other, thereby transmuting it into the separate property of the receiving spouse.
Converting Community Property: Partition Agreements In Texas, this is done via a written agreement establishing a partition or exchange between the parties. A partition or exchange agreement is much like a prenuptial agreement, but it can be executed at any time during the marriage.
It is the burden of the person claiming it as separate property to prove that the asset actually should be considered separate property. They must present clear and convincing evidence. This is somewhere in between a reasonable doubt and a preponderance of the evidence.
Yes, but only if you keep it distinct from community property and maintain clear records to prove its separate status. Commingling funds can lead to the entire account being considered community property.
Every co-owner of an interest in the property (no matter how small) must agree in order for a voluntary partition to occur. The remedy when agreement cannot be reached is for one or more of the co-owners to seek a court-ordered division by means of a partition suit.
Typically your community property is divided between you and your spouse in a divorce while separate property will not be shared and/or divided.
If you acquired your home during marriage, yes, your wife may be entitled to half under Texan community property laws, even if only your name appears on deeds.
Legal and Practical Considerations: Legally, both spouses have an equal right to stay in the marital home unless a court decides otherwise. This is because, in Texas, a home bought during the marriage is considered community property, owned equally by both spouses.
A partition agreement does not have to be approved by the court as just and right. In addition to being in writing and signed by both parties, a partition agreement must either specifically reference “partition” or show the parties' intent to convert the property from community property to separate property.