One Spouse Sued? How California Law Can Put All Marital Assets at Risk

If one spouse is sued in California, the risk may extend far beyond that individual. All marital assets could be exposed under California law. In this video, asset protection attorney Jacob Stein, Partner at Aliant (Los Angeles), explains how California’s community property rules work in lawsuit and creditor situations, and what married couples need to understand before a legal issue arises. Married and living in California? Asset protection works very differently here, and a common misconception about “50/50” ownership often leaves couples unintentionally vulnerable. In this video, you’ll learn: • How community property really works in California • Why one spouse’s lawsuit can expose all marital assets • What creditors can and cannot reach • What a transmutation agreement is and how it works How married couples can divide and protect assets when only one spouse faces legal exposure