<prompt> Human: Im about to inherit 14K tax-free. Im married and my wife goes through money like theres no tomorrow. Because of this, Im not planning on telling her about the inheritance. To be honest, Im not sure how much longer were going to be together. I wouldnt be surprised if we end up separating in the next year. Now, onto the money. We have about 4K in cash, 18K in credit card debt, 18k on her auto loan, 170k on our mortgage, as well as a basement renovation project that will cost about another 15K. I have about 23K in retirement; she has less than 1000. Were both 30. I would say there are an additional 10K in renovations that need to be done around the house. My question is, what should I do with the 14K? More specifically, what could be done with it so she doesnt get any of it in the divorce? i.e. The house is in my name; if I put it all towards the mortgage, would it be untouchable? Im assuming no, but just curious. I know the most obvious advice would be to pay down the credit card debt, which most people in my shoes would do. But since there are other issues complicating the matter, Im asking what I should do with 14K if Im not sure the marriage is gonna make it another year? Please help!! Ill be receiving the money in a couple weeks and want to spend it wisely.  <response>: 1. Speak with a divorce lawyer because theres a lot of red flags in your post as far as your marriage goes - having been divorced, I can tell you that whether you own the home or not she has a good case to get 50 of whatever you own including equity in your home if there is any, retirement funds, etc. My husband owned our home, it was in his name, he had a large retirement fund, among other things. When we divorced, I got about half of his retirement fund but I wasnt looking to ruin the guy so I waived the 20k he was supposed to give me for the equity in the home. I also took my debt with me and let him keep his debt although if either of us threw a fit about it, we would have had to share the debt equally down the middle. 2. Honestly, you guys share debt too in a divorce like I stated above, so you may want to suck it up, tell your wife, use some of the money to hire a divorce lawyer and pay off as much debt as possible. If you hide the money you have to disclose EVERYTHING in a discovery if it is found out you did not disclose it you may be found in contempt of court and have to share or give her all the money in the end. I knew a couple that divorced and the man received 8k in a settlement and they spent together probably MORE than that to argue who got the money. In the end, the judge ordered that the money be split equally between the parties. Just a word of the wise, if you do keep the money in limbo it may be easiest just to split it with her in a divorce instead of arguing and paying a ton of money to lawyers to get the same judgment in the end anyway. 3. Also, if youre serious about a divorce, do not do your basement renovation, put it on the back burner there are more pressing issues at hand. Also, if you file and she doesnt have money to pay for a lawyer, you may also be required to pay her lawyer fees.I am not a lawyer, I just have gone through the process myself in a messy divorce and also know lots of other people who have gone through messy divorces as well. 