Q: Am I responsible to pay for my husband's medical bills with my inheritance?
I keep my inheritance in a separate account under my name only & have not co-mingled it with my marital assets. My husband owes $6K for medical treatments & we do not have the money in our joint account to pay this bill. I am on a fixed income & my husband has not worked in 13 years. Am I legally responsible to pay for this bill, or any other bills he may acquire due to him having cancer, with my inheritance? My husband has insurance & this $6K bill is his co-payment. We live in Sacramento, California and file our taxes jointly.
A:
Under California law, your separate inheritance funds should remain your separate property as long as you have maintained them in a separate account and not commingled them with marital assets. As such, you generally wouldn't be legally responsible for your husband's medical bills, including the $6K co-payment, solely from your inheritance. However, it's recommended to consult with a legal professional to ensure your situation aligns with state laws and to understand any potential nuances.
James L. Arrasmith
Founding Attorney and Chief Lawyer of The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith
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