A spouse can give consent to search which areas?

A spouse can give consent to search common areas and rooms they are responsible for because they typically have the authority to grant consent in spaces where they share control or ownership. In many legal contexts, consent provided by one spouse is valid for areas that are not exclusively occupied by the other spouse, especially in shared living situations. This principle is grounded in the idea that individuals sharing a residence have a reasonable expectation that common areas can be accessed by both parties.

When considering areas that belong solely to one spouse, such as a personal room or distinct personal property, permission might be more complicated and often requires consent from that specific individual. Therefore, the ability to provide consent is contingent on the reasonable expectation of privacy and ownership within shared spaces. The notion of "common areas and rooms they are responsible for" reflects the understanding that both spouses can generally consent to searches in places where they have mutual access and control.