Separate property is property and debt that is not considered marital property. It may be from before the marriage, or an inheritance or gift. Just because a party acquired property before marriage does not necessarily mean that it won't be considered marital property. A spouse's premarital separate property can become marital when a married couple demonstrates an intent, through their words or actions during marriage, to treat one spouse's separate property as marital property. Figuring out whether a piece of property or a particular debt is separate or marital can be very complicated and requires legal advice. See marital property.