Legal Question in Family Law in Washington
Home Purchased with Inherited Money
We have been married for 3/ � years. My mother passed away 1 � years ago, leaving me some money in a Trust. My wife and I purchased a condo, using $130,000 of my inheritance for a down payment. Since my wife had the job at the time, the mortgage was in both of our names and both of us are on the deed. A little over a year ago, I used more inherited money to pay off the mortgage. If we were to divorce, would I get the condo or just a portion of it and, if so, how much of a portion?
--name removed--
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Home Purchased with Inherited Money
The court would make a fair and equitable distribution of the community and separate assets. All assets and debts are before the court. If you can account for the money from your inheritance as the whole payment for the condo you would get it, but you may find that she would get a larger portion of marital community assets, or you might get more debt. If she made some contribution to payments, she may have some small claim on the condo. The determination is dependent on the details of the situation.