Do you think communal property laws in divorce are fair these days?

Answer 1

These laws do depend on the state, so I don't feel that I can make an overriding statement agreeing or disagreeing with them.
The state in which I live basically allows for a 50/50 split of all assets -- IF the couple has been together for more than three years. If it's less than that, then it gets trickier, and you have to back up to what was owned by whom when the marriage took place.
These laws, I do believe are fair in many cases. A marriage is a partnership, and the couple throughout the marriage normally makes decisions about jobs, employment, income, spending, etc. which affect both people. For instance, a stay-at-home-mom has an agreement (formal, or not!) with the father who goes to work to pay the bills. Her job is to raise the children, his is to pay the bills. Although his brings in more monetary income, it doesn't make hers less important.
Now, there are cases in which people take advantage of these laws. If a man (or woman) has been sitting on his/her behind for twelve years, taking in unemployment, or making no effort at all to get a job while his/her spouse is off working his/her behind off, then there is one case where the 50/50 probably isn't "fair." But part of being "fair" is being consistent, and so the rule is the same for everyone, and I don't think that it's going to change anytime soon. Courts would spend way too much time listening to bickering back and forth about who contributed what... it would be such a mess to sort out.

Answer 2

I feel that there needs to be a better distinction of what is and isn;t community property. It seems to get vauge. I also dont see where it comes into play if one spouse or the other has not been contributing/working. If your married 10 years and your spouse didnt work the whole time They can then try to claim they are entitled to half of everything you payed for during those years. And to boot you know they are going to try to get spousal support. Doesnt really seem too fair