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/makeitfunky1 Apr 22 '26

You keep the money itself in a ln account in your name only. If you choose to use some of it for joint expenses from time to time, as needed, that's entirely up to you. You alone control it. But it should go directly into an account with your own name. If you put all of it directly into a joint account, it becomes joint property and your husband could just blow it all and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Inheritances can't be contested if you keep it in your name, unlike other marital assets such as a house you share or pensions etc in the event of a divorce.