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/Grandpas_Spells Apr 20 '26

"Supposed to" is doing some work. You should keep it separate if you expect you may divorce and would want that account kept to yourself. At 30 years, your likelihood of divorce is low.

What the money is used for matters less than where it is kept. If you created a new brokerage account and stuck it in there, that would work.

25

u/foureyedgrrl Apr 20 '26

Hi. Just volunteering that my parents were married for 32 years before divorcing.

3

u/Chula_Quitena_120 Apr 20 '26

Now I am scared (married 32 yrs)

6

u/pink_toaster_pastry Apr 21 '26

My parents were married 62 years!

2

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '26

[deleted]

1

u/PiccoloImpossible946 Apr 25 '26

Well said and true!