Louisiana Civil Code

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CHAPTER 3 - SEPARATION OF PROPERTY REGIME

Art. 2370. A regime of separation of property is established by a matrimonial agreement that excludes the legal regime of community of acquets and gains or by a judgment decreeing separation of property. [Acts 1979, No. 709, §1]

Art. 2371. Under the regime of separation of property each spouse acting alone uses, enjoys, and disposes of his property without the consent or concurrence of the other spouse. [Acts 1979, No. 709, §1]

Art. 2372. A spouse is solidarily liable with the other spouse who incurs an obligation for necessaries for himself or the family. [Acts 1979, No. 709, §1]

Art. 2373. Each spouse contributes to the expenses of the marriage as provided in the matrimonial agreement. In the absence of such a provision, each spouse contributes in proportion to his means. [Acts 1979, No. 709, §1]

Art. 2374. A. When the interest of a spouse in a community property regime is threatened to be diminished by the fraud, fault, neglect, or incompetence of the other spouse, or by the disorder of the affairs of the other spouse, he may obtain a judgment decreeing separation of property.

B. When a spouse is an absent person, the other spouse is entitled to a judgment decreeing separation of property.

C. When a petition for divorce has been filed, upon motion of either spouse, a judgment decreeing separation of property may be obtained upon proof that the spouses have lived separate and apart without reconciliation for at least thirty days from the date of, or prior to, the filing of the petition for divorce.

D. When the spouses have lived separate and apart continuously for a period of six months, a judgment decreeing separation of property shall be granted on the petition of either spouse. [Acts 1992, No. 295, §1; Acts 1993, No. 25, §1; Acts 1993, No. 627, §1; Acts 2010, No. 603, §1, eff. Jul. 25, 2010] 

Art. 2375. A. Except as provided in Paragraph C of this Article, a judgment decreeing separation of property terminates the regime of community property retroactively to the day of the filing of the petition or motion therefor, without prejudice to rights validly acquired in the interim between filing of the petition or motion and rendition of judgment.

B. If a judgment has been rendered in accordance with Article 2374(C) or (D), a reconciliation reestablishes the regime of community property between the spouses retroactively to the day of its termination, unless prior to the reconciliation the spouses execute a matrimonial agreement to the contrary. This agreement need not be approved by the court and is effective toward third persons when filed for registry in the manner provided by Article 2332. The reestablishment of the community is effective toward third persons when a notice thereof is filed for registry in the same manner.

C. If a judgment is rendered on the ground that the spouses were living separate and apart without having reconciled for at least thirty days from the date of, or prior to, the filing of the petition for divorce, the judgment shall be effective retroactively to the date the petition for divorce was filed, without prejudice to rights validly acquired in the interim. All subsequent pleadings or motions involving matters incidental to the divorce shall be filed in the first filed suit. [Acts 1992, No. 295, §1; Acts 1993, No. 25, §1; Acts 1993, No. 627, §1; Acts 1997, No. 35, §1; Acts 2010, No. 603, §1, eff. Jul. 25, 2010; Acts 2017, No. 197, §1]

Art. 2376. The creditors of a spouse, by intervention in the proceeding, may object to the separation of property or modification of their matrimonial regime as being in fraud of their rights. They also may sue to annul a judgment of separation of property within one year from the date of the rendition of the final judgment. After execution of the judgment, they may assert nullity only to the extent that they have been prejudiced. [Acts 1979, No. 709, §1]

Arts. 2377-2431. [Repealed. Acts 1978, No. 627, §6; Acts 1979, No. 709, §1]




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