California Family Code

§ 782

FAM § 782Div. 4 · Part 2 · Ch. 3

Statute text

(a)Where an injury to a married person is caused in whole or in part by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of the person’s spouse, the community property may not be used to discharge the liability of the tortfeasor spouse to the injured spouse or the liability to make contribution to a joint tortfeasor until the separate property of the tortfeasor spouse, not exempt from enforcement of a money judgment, is exhausted.

(b)This section does not prevent the use of community property to discharge a liability referred to in subdivision (a) if the injured spouse gives written consent thereto after the occurrence of the injury.

(c)This section does not affect the right to indemnity provided by an insurance or other contract to discharge the tortfeasor spouse’s liability, whether or not the consideration given for the contract consisted of community property.

Legislative history

Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.