Q & A Table of Contents
It's My Inheritance, Do I Have To Share It?
From: Milton, San Bernardino, CA
Question: Soon I will inherit $100.000 or so. Will I have to share it with my wife? She never liked my mom. I plan on putting it in my own personal bank account. How should I deal with this?
Response: These sorts of questions can be addressed two ways. You can make a unilateral decision, but should get the advice of a lawyer to make sure you are obeying the law. While you may get the money now, if your denial of a share of the money to your wife sours your relationship with her, the funds may be counted as assets in a divorce -- even after you have spent the money.
Thus, looking at the second question is really the one that counts. In negotiation you have to consider many factors: interests, BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement), communication, and others. One of those 'others' is relationship. Before deciding to keep the money for yourself and away from your wife, you should consider how that decision will affect your marital relationship. Your wife may well have 'never liked your mom', but the far more important question is whether you and she like/love each other and whether money is worth jeopardizing that relationship.
Good luck in making a wise decision,
Steve
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