Do I Have To Share My Inheritance With My Spouse During Our Divorce?
That is a very good question that may or may not have a clear answer.
For example, as you know, Nevada is a community property state, and any assets that are obtained during the marriage are jointly owned 50/50. So, during a divorce, those assets will begin by being equally divided down the middle, with each couple getting half of the asset.
Inheritance, for example, is something that is supposed to be exempt from community property, meaning that it should be separate property, depending on how it is given and how it is used. For example, if a family member gives both spouses an inheritance, then those spouses are both equally owners of that inheritance, and therefore, that inheritance can be divided equally. If a family member gives one spouse only inheritance and that inheritance comes directly to that spouse, then that inheritance is supposed to be separate property, meaning it is not to be equally divided.
However, and this is the big if, if that inheritance is placed in a joint bank account, the funds are now being commingled into something that is previously owned by both parties, and therefore, this separate property inheritance can now be arguably joint property because it was placed in an account that is owned by both parties. The same thing can be said if this inheritance money was used to, for example, pay off a mortgage that is in both spouses’ names. Now, that separate property is changed from separate to joint and it can be subject to an equitable or equal division by the courts.
The question now would be, what was the intent in doing that? Was the intention to commingle that, to make that separate property into community property?
Remember, inheritance money is by nature, in the beginning, supposed to be separate property. However, it can be changed from separate to joint depending on how it is used. So, if your intention is to keep it separate, please make sure that you’re very careful in how you allocate that money, where you place that money, and what access that money, what access your spouse might have to that money if your intention is to keep it separate.
If you wish to discuss this topic further, please go to vegasdivorcemeeting.com. I’ll be more than happy to sit down with you to discuss this situation.
Nothing is more important than your family. LJ Law is a Family Law Firm in Las Vegas, Nevada. We offer help in cases such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Child Support, Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements, Annulments, Alimony, Adoption, Guardianship, and Paternity, and much more.
Learn More at our Website:
Want to Discuss Further? Let’s Set Up a Meeting:
www.VegasDivorceMeeting.com
Contact Us:
Email: info@LJLawLV.com
Call: (702) 998-1188
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THIS CONTENT IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT, NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE, LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE SPECIFIC FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION. REVIEWING THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE AND/OR CONTACTING US DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CASE TO US UNTIL SUCH TIME AS AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.