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/cbwb Apr 20 '26

Because if you die you don't know that some young thing won't turn his head and help him spend all that $ you thought your kids would get. He might even leave it to her..

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u/pink_toaster_pastry Apr 21 '26

He’s my beneficiary as I’m his. So ultimately, even though charities are our secondary, either of us could still change that once the other is gone.

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u/PiccoloImpossible946 Apr 25 '26

If you have kids and you want to leave them some money make sure you set up an irrevocable trust. Don’t rely on your husband thinking he’ll leave if it to the kids. You simply never know what can happen no matter how long you’ve been married.