In Italy, if the spouses have not chosen the separation of property regime (see sub paragraph 4), the community property regime is applied to the marriage.This means that all purchases made during the marriage by each of the spouses are automatically community property (and must therefore be divided 50/50 between the spouses).The property owned by each spouse before the marriage and the property acquired subsequently by donation or inheritance remain personal.

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There are other, less important exceptions to the community property regulations.