{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/community-property-interest","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/community-property-interest","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"community-property-interest","term":"Community property interest","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"In community property states, your spouse has a legal interest in assets acquired during your marriage, including your ownership stake in a business. This impacts who needs to sign loan documents.","what_it_means":"If you live in a community property state, your spouse will likely need to sign certain SBA loan documents, even if they aren't an owner of the business. This is to ensure the lender can secure a valid lien on all collateral. Be prepared for their involvement in the paperwork.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/community-property-interest","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"lien","term":"Lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien"},{"slug":"co-borrower","term":"Co-borrower","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-borrower"},{"slug":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does a lender perfect a security interest in intellectual property for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-perfect-a-security-interest-in-intellectual-property-for-a-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How does a lender perfect its lien on a security interest in a business's intellectual property for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-perfect-its-lien-on-a-security-interest-in-a-business-s-intellectual-pro"},{"question":"If the business property is owned by the seller's separate entity, can the SBA 7(a) loan include financing for both the business and the property?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-the-business-property-is-owned-by-the-seller-s-separate-entity-can-the-sba-7-a-loan-inc"},{"question":"What if the business property is owned personally by the seller?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-business-property-is-owned-personally-by-the-seller"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance the purchase of intellectual property?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-the-purchase-of-intellectual-property"},{"question":"What happens to the interest rate on an SBA 7(a) loan if general market interest rates go down significantly?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-happens-to-the-interest-rate-on-an-sba-7-a-loan-if-general-market-interest-rates-go-d"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Community property interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/community-property-interest","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}