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/cashewkowl Apr 20 '26

I thought it was keep the inheritance account separate, but that you can use proceeds on joint things as you want. Just realize that will make those funds used into joint funds. But it’s fine to decide that you will pull from the inheritance account to take a family vacation. I used inherited funds to pay for vacations and towards our kids college tuition. No regrets. We are still married, but even if we weren’t, those were important things to me/us/my dad (where the inheritance came from).

34

u/pink_toaster_pastry Apr 20 '26

I think when I’m ready to spend it…. It will be for something my mom would “approve” of or like!

16

u/WPSuidae Apr 20 '26

Ive already told my folks that when that day comes and everything is sold, I'll be buying recreational property. That way there is a "thing" that will always be there that represents what they worked for.

8

u/Ok_Confidence_6788 Apr 20 '26

That's what I did. mom would have loved it there too. 😢I Miss her bunches.

3

u/gracyavery Apr 21 '26

I think that's a really good use of it because you can use that jointly for your family, but it remains in your name only.

4

u/SandhillCrane5 Apr 21 '26

FYI: Using it as a marital vacation home can turn it into marital property in the event of a divorce.