Inheritance

[Tinkerbell36]

My DP has just inherited an unexpected large amount o f money. All good except we have some money on credit cards( his name) from when I was on mat leave. I suggested the first thing we do is pay them off but he replied " you earn good money now why haven't you paid them off ? The money on the cards was from my mat leave when my earning was vastly reduced. I feel this is a joint debt and am annoyed he feels he can have money in the bank while I struggle? Views??

Are you married? If so, the inheritance will be joint I think.

How do you normally sort finances as a couple? Will the debt take up all the inheritance?

Why not discuss the debt and it being shared before the inheritance?

I agree with you by the way.

He sounds like an arse OP! Any inheritance DP or I get (we won't, but hypothetically) will be joint. Same with mat leave costs and debts.

Inheritance is NOT joint.
Nor are debts.
You need to talk about MUCH larger issues if he cannot see the logic of clearing the family debts before earning pittance on savings

I agree that it makes sense to clear debts before saving. But how were these debts built up? You say you were on mat leave but did you and DH both tighten your belts a bit when income was reduced, did DH tighten his belt and you carried on spending as if income was the same, did you both tighten your belts and the debts are from buying nappies, etc?

As a couple income (including inheritances), expenditure, debts are joint - luckily my DW and I are very financially compatible. Perhaps in this case OP's DH is miffed because OP has been living the high life at a time when their income has shrunk a lot? I think I would be a bit miffed if I got an inheritance which could make us financially secure and found out it would just be used to cover lots of pairs of Jimmy Choo's bought on the never-never ...

I think inheritance should belong to the person who inherited it. If they want to share that's up to them. I don't think inheritance is joint.