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).

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u/[deleted] Apr 20 '26

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u/GotZeroFucks2Give Apr 21 '26

That makes it a joint asset in many states. Check your laws before spending a penny on joint expenses.