Is a wife entitled to any of her husband's inheritance if they divorce?

Answer

No.

Inheritances even in community property states are considered solely owned by a spouse.

In some states (not all) the court will allow a "trade off" of some marital assets in lieu of the inheritance to make the partitioning of marital property equitable.

An inheritance always belongs solely to the beneficiary regardless of the status of a marriage or relationship, (traditional, common law, partnership etc).

This is a link to only one state law (Pennsylvania) concerning inheritances and marital property. To supply a link for all 50 states would be redundant because the same premise applies to them all.

http://www.familylawlibrary.net/page7.html

Not so

In most states if a gift or inheritance is deposited in a joint account, then it's considered a gift to the marriage and becomes a marital asset. If the gift or inheritance went into (and stayed in) an account held in one spouse's name, then it's a non-marital asset.

Implicit in the following article is that if you wish to keep an inheritance away from your spouse, you must deposit it in an account that is not jointly owned: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Loveandmoney/P72670.asp

Generally speaking, once you commingle separate property with community or marital property, it's no longer non-marital property.

Improve Answer View existing comments for "Is a wife entitled to any of her husband's inheritance if they divorce?" Watch Question

First answer by Schnazola. Last edit by Macky. Contributor trust: 3081 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 15 [recommend question]

Research your answer:

Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Law and Legal Issues > Divorce and Marriage Law > Is a wife entitled to any of her husband's inheritance if they divorce?

Our contributors said this page should be displayed for the questions below. (Where do these come from)
If any of these are not a genuine rephrasing of the question, please help out and edit these alternates.
Divorce and inheritance laws?  Rights of inheritance in divorce?  Who is entitled to your inheritance?  Is your ex wife entitled to your inheritance?  Is your soon to be ex entitled to inheritance?  Is a wife entitled to any of her husband's inh?  What do divorce laws in Florida say about inheritance?  Will my ex wife get any of my late mother's inheritance?  In california can an inheritance be divided in a divorce?  If your 16-year-old wants to be adopted by your new husband in montana?  Been married 16 years 2 kids can i divorce my husband and take any of his inhertiance he just received 2 year ago?