"Community property" is term describing how some states classify property acquired during a marriage. For example, community property is often defined as property acquired by a husband and wife during a marriage. In a number of states (generally those in the Western part of the United States), such property is considered to be jointly owned by each spouse. In contrast to "community property," "separate property" is often defined as property acquired by a husband or wife before a marriage or during marriage through gift or inheritance. Such "separate property" is considered to be owned only by the spouse who acquired it either before the marriage or by the spouse who was the intended recipient of the property as a gift or inheritance during the marriage. The significance of whether property is "community" or "separate" property often arises when the property is divided between the husband and wife during a divorce or how the property is transferred upon the death of either spouse.