A "community property" state will classify assets as ether separate or community (marital). And once classified, the court will divide upon divorce the community property 50-50 in an equal fashion. The community property states are as follows: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. On the contrary all of the other remaining states are "equitable distribution" states, which classify property as separate and marital, and upon divorce the marital portion is divided in a fair and equitable fashion, which does not necessary mean equally.