Vallera v. Vallera
Supreme Court of California
21 Cal. 2d 681 (1943)
Mrs. Vallera (plaintiff) lived with Mr. Vallera (defendant) for about three years while he remained legally married to another woman, a fact Mrs. Vallera knew throughout the relationship; the property acquired during their cohabitation consisted solely of Mr. Vallera's own earnings. After the relationship ended, Mrs. Vallera sued for spousal maintenance and a division of what she characterized as community property; the trial court found the parties were never legally married (foreclosing spousal maintenance) but still awarded her a one-half interest in property acquired during part of the cohabitation period as a joint tenant. Mr. Vallera appealed.
Whether an individual who cohabitates with another is entitled to a one-half interest in property accumulated during the term of cohabitation.