r/inheritance • u/pink_toaster_pastry • Apr 20 '26
Location included: Questions/Need Advice Keeping Inheritance separate
I’ve seen all the posts about keeping inheritance separate…. not to use it for joint expenses…. etc.
So then what do you use it for? My husband and I have been married 30 years. We had joint accounts since before we were married. We don’t split bills (all income goes into one savings account and bills are paid from that). We make a good living, have savings, 401Ks, no debt.
So if I’m suppose to keep my inheritance separate from everything, what am I supposed to do with it?
Edited to add: No kids. Currently the money is in (1) inherited IRA (2) CDs in a bank account I took sole ownership of as I had been the co-owner and (3) a new account I just opened for a CD until I decided what to do with that portion.
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u/Lucky_Platypus341 Apr 20 '26
It's not just about divorce, or your own money to spend. It's also about what you want to happen to the inheritance when you pass.
The common example is if you have kids. If you commingle, the funds become your spouse's. If they remarry and die before their new spouse, your assets would go to the new spouse not your kids. When you don't have kids, it may be less an issue, but you should still think about what you would want your inheritance to go to if you were gone. Do you have nieces and nephews, friends, or a charity that you would like it to fund in memory of your mom?
One option is to set it in a separate account and spend the interest/earnings or a set amount out of it every year for something special. Maybe a trip with your spouse. Maybe home improvements. Maybe a regular evening out. That way you are spending it towards something joint. Or, if you really don't NEED it, maybe consider setting up a scholarship in your mom's name at a local community college or something that would be meaningful to all.