Inheritance QUESTION:
I might be getting a divorce soon. I’m concerned that if I inherit money before my divorce that I have to give my wife half of it money.
Attorney Kenneth White’s ANSWER
Assets received from an inheritance or gifts received from third parties are immune from equitable distribution, provided you do not commingle such assets. For example, if you receive $100,000 and keep that asset in a separate account from your spouse and you get divorced that $100,000 will remain 100% yours. However, if you take that $100,000 and put the same in a joint account and start satisfying joint expenses or take that money and purchase a new asset in joint names that money will be considered “commingled” and will be subject to equitable distribution.
