California is a community property state. Other than property that was owned by only one of the spouses before the marriage, property that was inherited by only one specific spouse, and recovery from a personal injury lawsuit, all marital property is to be considered community property. The court will divide community property in any way the judge finds to be equitable when considering any disparity between the income of the two spouses, each spouse’s commitment to the children, and each spouse’s future earning potential. All pensions, other retirement accounts, and employment benefits are also community property and will be divided equitably, meaning that these assets too can be divided in any way that the judge finds to be fair; they do not have to be split in even portions. If both spouses happen to have similar retirement accounts, for example, the judge may choose to simply award each spouse their own accounts. A skilled family law attorney in Hanford, CA should always be consulted before entering into any agreements regarding property division.