"In some relationships, one partner has substantially greater family resources that may create anxiety or mistrust in the other spouse. Therapists and marriage counselors naturally must address these stressors when attempting to help couples resolve their conflict. But in the course of doing so, therapists must be aware that their advice can have serious legal and financial consequences if the marriage later ends."
"A client comes to my office for a divorce consultation. In the course of discussing her finances, she explains that she inherited a large sum of money from her parent's estate during the marriage. However, her husband-although professing no interest in "her family's money"-felt that her segregation of those funds from their marital accounts revealed a lack of trust or commitment to the marriage."
Money and financial stress commonly cause marital conflict and divorce. One partner's greater family resources can create anxiety and mistrust in the other spouse. Therapists and marriage counselors must address financial stressors but should recognize that their advice can have serious legal and financial consequences if the marriage ends. Inherited funds placed into joint accounts or commingled with marital assets can lose their separate status and be treated as marital property. Agreements during counseling to transfer inheritance into joint accounts can lead courts to divide those funds equally. Counselors should understand basic principles of matrimonial law before advising financial decisions.
Read at Psychology Today
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