California is a community property state, meaning that all debt accumulated during a marriage is generally considered marital debt shared by the spouses. The exception in student loan debt relates to timing - debts incurred more than ten years prior to a divorce will be treated as marital debt, with the assumption that the debt led to increased earnings power during the marriage from which both spouses benefited. Student loan debt incurred fewer than ten years prior to divorce will not be treated as marital debt and remain the responsibility of the debtor spouse only. Student loan debt incurred prior to the marriage by either spouse remains the liability of the debtor spouse only.