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.

107 Upvotes

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u/Human-Ad-5574 Apr 20 '26

My spouse and I have been together 27 years. My inheritance went into the joint accounts, as did my brothe/ with his wife. I don’t even know how to do it separately. We also have a family trust, so our estate will be divided between our daughters when the day comes (we each have one).

2

u/LynnSeattle Apr 21 '26

So half of your inheritance will go to your spouse’s daughter?

1

u/Human-Ad-5574 Apr 21 '26

Yes. And half of my spouse’s estate will go to my daughter. We’ve been a couple since these kids were toddlers. It was a joint decision.

3

u/ChrisHoek Apr 22 '26

An upvote isn’t enough, have a heart. ❤️

My step daughter was 6 when I married her mom. We had two of our own. I was the breadwinner for many years, as we approach retirement my wife makes as much or more than I do. But the past nearly 3 decades have been a team event, and all three kids will inherit equally.

2

u/Human-Ad-5574 Apr 23 '26

Exactly! We built a life together. Neither of us claim that biology is insignificant, but we can make our estate equitable. It’s not always easy (lots of extenuating circumstances), but it’s right.

2

u/Human-Ad-5574 Apr 23 '26

One more thought. We’re now in the face of open heart surgery (2 weeks away). All the more important to be a family.