Sinbad
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2006
- Messages
- 81,190
In community of property’ means that everything each individual spouse owned and each of their individual debts from before their marriage are put together in a joint estate. From this point onwards everything they earn or buy after their marriage will also form part of this joint estate, including any debt and liabilities incurred by either one of them.
Should one spouse be reckless with his financial affairs, it will adversely affect the other spouse, as they will be liable for each other’s debts. The spouses will however also be joint owners of all property in the estate. Both spouses therefore have equal rights of ownership and administration over all the assets.
There are various transactions that require the consent of both spouses. The most prejudicial consequence of marrying in community of property, is that assets in the joint estate are vulnerable to the claims of creditors of both spouses and very little can be done to protect against this vulnerability. This marital regime is not recommended for spouses running independent businesses.
That in itself is reason to go ANC.