Am I required to give my husband my inherited property to pay his debts?

Full question:

My father gifted me some landed property before my marriage. After marriage, my husband brought a land next to it. We kept the both properties together and there is no separation. My husband is asking the whole property to clear off his debts. Am I liable to give him the whole property?

  • Category: Marriage
  • Subcategory: Marital Property
  • Date:
  • State: Vermont

Answer:

No, you do not have to give him the entire property. He can partition the land and use his portion to settle his debts. In Vermont, any personal property you acquired before or during marriage, except as a gift from your husband, is considered your separate property. This means it is not subject to his control or liable for his debts, as stated in 15 V.S.A. § 66.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

No, property acquired before marriage is generally considered separate property and not marital property. In Vermont, any personal property you received as a gift or inheritance before marriage remains yours and is not subject to division during a divorce or for debt obligations of your spouse. This means your husband cannot claim it as marital property.