Legal Question in Family Law in California

If the money was earned or acquired during the marriage, unless by inheritance or income from separate assets, and not mingled with any earnings during marriage, it is community property regardless of whose name is on the account. So no matter how you move it around it remains community property, and if you tried to hide it you would be in violation of your fiduciary duties to your spouse. In a divorce the penalty for such breaches of fiduciary duty if you are caught, is up to forfeiture of the entire balance to your spouse as THEIR separate property, plus attorneys fees for finding and proving you hid the assets.