Texas divides marital property as community property. This means any property owned by either spouse during the marriage is community property between the spouses. The court also divides marital debt at this time and ownership is recognized the same way. However, property that is owned by either spouse before the marriage is considered separate property. In a case involving children, the Texas divorce court often divides the property unequally. An equal division of the community property is not required by the Texas divorce laws, were as some other community property states adhere more to the 50-50 split rule.