When a court reviews the property you and your spouse own, the court will divide the marital property and will generally allow you to keep your separate property. Marital property is most of the real estate and personal property you acquire after you're married. Separate property is:Property you brought into the marriage
Gifts to one spouse from any source
Inheritances
Awards from lawsuits
Property listed as separate property in a prenuptial agreement or in a postnuptial agreement
Property listed as separate property in a marital settlement agreement, separation agreement, or stipulation of settlement in a divorce
The problem with keeping property before marriage your separate property is that separate property can become marital property in several ways. If a court finds that your separate property has become marital property, your premarital assets are not protected.