Six Steps to Take if You've Recently Inherited Money From a Loved One (2024)

FAQs

What is the first thing you do when you inherit money? ›

What you should do first will depend on what form (or forms) your inheritance takes. For example, if you inherit cash, you might want to park it someplace safe for a while. A federally insured bank or credit union account would be a good choice.

Typically, the estate will pay any estate tax owed, with the beneficiaries receiving assets from the estate free of income taxes (see exception for retirement assets in the chart below). As a beneficiary, if you later sell or earn income from inherited assets, there may be income tax consequences.

Research shows that the average person burns through their inheritance in about five years, unless it is invested properly. The worst things you can do with an inheritance are spend it on assets you can't maintain, sit on it, or invest it all in one place.

Key Takeaways. Inheritances aren't considered income for federal tax purposes, but subsequent earnings on the inherited assets, including interest income and dividends, are taxable (unless it comes from a tax-free source).

Deposit the money into a safe account

Your first action to take when receiving a lump sum is to deposit the money into an FDIC-insured bank account. This will allow for safekeeping while you consider how to make the best use of your inheritance.

Transfer assets into a trust

An irrevocable trust transfers asset ownership from the original owner to the trust beneficiaries. Because those assets don't legally belong to the person who set up the trust, they aren't subject to estate or inheritance taxes when that person passes away.

First, consider working with a financial advisor. These are financial professionals who are trained to help you create a financial plan. They will likely have tips on how to pay off your debts, and how to invest your inheritance to grow your wealth safely. Second, do your best not to spend all of your inheritance.

If you die without a will, your estate is divided among your closest relatives according to your state's intestate statutes. Generally, this divides your assets among your spouse and children. If you have no spouse or children, it is divided among grandchildren, parents, or other more distant relatives.

Several basic modes of inheritance exist for single-gene disorders: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, and X-linked recessive. However, not all genetic conditions will follow these patterns, and other rare forms of inheritance such as mitochondrial inheritance exist.

How do beneficiaries receive their money? ›

Distributing assets to beneficiaries

After all debts have been paid, an estate's remaining assets — minus any probate feeds — are distributed to beneficiaries in accordance with the will, or — if there is no will — by following a state's laws of succession, otherwise known as the “order of heirs.”

What Is an Inheritance? Inheritance refers to the assets that an individual bequeaths to their loved ones after they pass away. An inheritance may contain cash, investments such as stocks or bonds, and other assets such as jewelry, automobiles, art, antiques, and real estate.

Small inheritance ($20,000)

Even if you receive a modest inheritance—you have many options. One idea is to fund an emergency savings account. Experts recommend that you have six months of living expenses set aside for emergencies, and $20,000 would put you well on the way toward this goal.

Inheritances are not considered income for federal tax purposes, whether the individual inherits cash, investments or property.

The Executor must submit the Will and other important documents to the probate court, and then pay any outstanding bills and taxes. Once that's done, you can expect to receive a disbursem*nt of financial assets and transfer of ownership of any tangible assets.

Banks don't have to accept checks that are more than six months (180 days) old.