Should I Keep Inheritance from Wifes Grandfather After Divorce?

Some people don’t realize a favor can turn into a financial landmine the second a marriage starts cracking. In this post, a guy went all-in for love, quit his job, moved across the country, and built his life inside his wife Sarah’s grandfather Jack’s company.

Then Jack dies, and the man he became close with leaves him a “business help” inheritance, plus Sarah gets a separate, bigger inheritance. Sounds clean on paper, until Sarah drops a bombshell: an emotional affair that almost went physical with someone very close to him. Now they’re facing divorce, no kids, and no prenup, and he’s stuck between what’s legally his and what Jack clearly meant for their shared future.

Here’s the part that makes the whole thing feel cursed, and it’s not just the breakup.

Original Post

My wife Sarah and I got married two years ago after dating long distance for a year. I left my job and moved across the country to be with her, and since then I've been working in her grandfather Jack's company.

We have no children and no prenup. Jack and I became very close, he taught me about business and encouraged me to put up my own.

When he died last year, he left me a relatively large sum of money which he said was to help put up my own business so I can always take care of my future family with Sarah. He left a separate and larger inheritance for her.

I haven't touched the money because after Jack's death I decided to stay with the company for a few months to help make sure that ownership and management transition went on smoothly. During that time, my life turned upside down after Sarah suddenly admitted to me that she had an emotional affair that almost turn physical with someone very close to me.

We are in therapy to try to fix things - I love Sarah and I know I have my own faults - but right now I'm not sure that it's working out and I'm seriously considering if the best thing for both of us is to divorce and start anew separately. If we divorce, I am not going to ask for any of Sarah's money or properties because it's hers and her family's.

But I have a dilemma about the money Jack left me. It's mine legally and will let me have a fresh start when I move back, and I do intend to put up the business that Jack and I talked about.

But I know he wanted that business to be the means for me to look after my future family with Sarah, which will not happen if we divorce. Tell me what you guys think?

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This kind of family fallout is similar to a bride who uninvited a critical sibling after they publicly disapproved of her partner.

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When Jack left him the money after teaching him business and encouraging his own company, it felt like a fresh start waiting to happen.

But the second Sarah admits the emotional affair, the “future family” plan Jack tied his inheritance to suddenly falls apart.

The divorce question gets even messier because he’s already decided not to touch Sarah’s money or property, even though his own inheritance is legally his.

And while he plans to build the business Jack talked about, he’s wondering if that choice would betray Jack’s intention once Sarah is no longer his wife.

What's your opinion on this situation? Join the conversation!

He wants a clean break, but Jack’s money was never meant to be used in a broken version of the plan.

Before you decide what to do with Jack’s money, see how one couple handled refusing babysitting to family pressure. Read about the babysitting boundary showdown.