What is considered separate property in New York?

Separate property includes assets owned prior to the marriage, inheritances or gifts given during the marriage that were made specifically to one spouse, and property that can be traced back to these sources. In many cases, separate property belongs to the spouse who owns it and is typically not subject to equitable distribution. However, there can be exceptions when separate funds mix with marital funds or when separate property becomes commingled with marital property, such as through depositing funds into a shared bank account.