{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/community-property-law","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/community-property-law","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-law","term":"Community Property Law","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"In community property states, assets acquired during marriage are generally considered jointly owned by both spouses. This impacts your SBA loan if you're married and live in one of these states.","what_it_means":"If you're married and reside in a community property state, your spouse will likely need to sign a spousal guaranty, even if they are not an owner of the business. This ensures the lender has recourse to marital assets if the loan defaults. Be aware of your state's laws and prepare for your spouse's involvement in the loan closing.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/community-property-law","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"}],"related":[{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"guaranty","term":"Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/guaranty"},{"slug":"key-principal","term":"Key principal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-principal"},{"slug":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"}],"related_questions":[{"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 if my business has very little physical property to offer as collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-if-my-business-has-very-little-physical-property-to-offer-as-collateral"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance property improvements on leased land or buildings?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-property-improvements-on-leased-land-or-buildings"},{"question":"What if the acquired business property has existing environmental concerns, like old fuel tanks?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-acquired-business-property-has-existing-environmental-concerns-like-old-fuel-t"}]},"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 Law","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/community-property-law","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}