Is Missouri a community property state?
No. Missouri courts give each spouse their nonmarital property and divide marital property and debts in the proportions the court considers just after weighing relevant factors. Gifts, inheritances and property excluded by written agreement are nonmarital.[1]
What Missouri’s statutes say
Dividing property at divorce
The court sets apart each spouse's nonmarital property and divides marital property and marital debts in proportions it deems just after considering relevant factors.[1]
“the court shall set apart to each spouse such spouse's nonmarital property and shall divide the marital property and marital debts in such proportions as the court deems just after considering all relevant factors including …”[1]
RSMo § 452.330.1 · checked October 26, 2026
Marital property
Marital property is all property acquired by either spouse after the marriage, except listed categories.[1]
“‘marital property’ means all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage except …”[1]
RSMo § 452.330.2 · checked October 26, 2026
Nonmarital property
Excluded: gifts and inheritances, property exchanged for premarital or gifted property, property acquired after a legal separation decree, property excluded by valid written agreement, and growth in value of such property unless marital assets or labor contributed.[1]
“(1) Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent …”[1]
RSMo § 452.330.2(1) · checked October 26, 2026
Not legal advice. Plain-English summaries of Missouri’s statutes as of the date shown on each, with the text quoted. Whether a particular asset is marital, community or separate depends on the facts, and courts apply the law case by case. Read the linked source or ask a lawyer licensed in Missouri.
More
Sources
Missouri’s statutes, read on the official site (or an official court source where the line says so), with the date we checked them.