Property owned outright by one spouse prior to the marriage is considered separate property in California and is therefore not subject to division during a divorce. However, this is not always absolute. For example, if the asset increases in value during the marriage, the margin of that increase may be considered community property and therefore subject to division. If the asset gets commingled with marital funds, used for marital purposes, or is not adequately documented as separate property, it may also lose its status as separate property and become community property in the court’s eyes.