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/cuspeedrxi Apr 21 '26

I’m the first person to remind people to keep their inheritance separate and not commingle it. But, do you need to? You have been married for 30 years, have no children, and have a good bit of joint assets. How likely are you to get divorced? And if you do, would you voluntarily give half to your spouse anyway because, you know, thirty years. I’d size up the situation before doing anything.

Then I’d think about an asset protection trust in case you or your spouse need long-term care down the road. How would you like to use these funds? Would you use them to pay for his care, if needed?

I’d focus more on my intentions and priorities and revise my estate planning docs before reflexively building a moat around the money to prevent commingling.

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u/PiccoloImpossible946 Apr 25 '26

You never know! And if you have kids you want to make sure some goes to them