Phoenix Rising: Reddit Red Flags Series — Episode 2

This post made me actually stop what I was doing and pray out loud while my heart pounded and cortisol shot through my system, making me sweat as a trauma response to reading this.

First and foremost. Let me get this straight to anyone who doesn't understand this: You are NOT legally obligated to give an inheritance to your marital spouse. Your spouse is not getting that inheritance. YOU are. And while marriage is 3/4ths of the law, as someone who studied and dealt in real estate and life insurance, inheritance is an exception.

Important note: I am referring to in America. If you do not live in America, use Google to look up your regional inheritance laws.

You don't have to take MY word for it - but Google has my back:

In most U.S. states, you are not legally required to give your inheritance to your spouse. While your spouse may have certain rights to your property, including a portion of your estate if you die without a will, they generally do not have a legal claim to your inheritance unless it is commingled with marital assets.

Community Property States:

In community property states, such as California, Nevada, and Washington, any property acquired during the marriage is considered marital property, which is usually divided equally in a divorce. However, even in community property states, an inheritance is usually considered separate property, unless it is commingled with marital assets.

This is the most obvious horrendous case of financial abuse I have ever seen on Reddit - let's break it down.

FIFTEEN YEARS? You've been tolerating this abuse for FIFTEEN YEARS?

And look at you, so sweet, asking if you're allowed to tell your husband no. You must have grown up in one of those culty homes that teaches you that you have to be submissive to your husband and let him handle all the homes. I'm here to tell you baby:

1. You live in America. No matter what your husband says - YOU are STILL the boss of your OWN SHIT. Your body. Your inheritance. Your life. Your career if you want. Your CHILD because I am willing to put actual pennies on the line in a bet that husband says that child-rearing is "woman's work, and YOUR job."
2. At this point in time, you still have FULL legal rights to your OWN inheritance since these properties are NOT tied up in marital asset red tape.
3. You can tell your husband NO to ANYTHING you want to say no to. That's not illegal, and your husband cannot physically punish you for it. And if he does that's just ONE more reason to leave him. Which you SHOULD leave him - a sentence I try very hard to avoid because I understand I never know the full story from one side on Reddit.
4. What your husband has done is THEFT - regardless of your marriage. He has STOLEN over 200k of YOUR inheritance money. And he's not allowing you to use it. He is KEEPING what is LEGALLY yours AWAY from you by FORCE. Listen, Bee-Vomit (honey,I called you honey), if you walked in the court room and told that judge you felt under duress when you agreed to give him that money because he "made" you do it, that is STILL the following: Extortion By Coercion. Which is a FEDERAL OFFENSE.

The Hobbs Act (18 U.S.C. § 1951) is a federal law that criminalizes extortion and robbery that affects interstate or foreign commerce. It was originally enacted in 1946 to target organized crime, particularly in labor disputes. The Act prohibits the wrongful use of force, violence, or fear, or the color of official right, to obtain property or other benefits.

Penalties:

A Hobbs Act conviction can result in a maximum prison sentence of 20 years per violation.

Maybe your husband doesn't hit you or anything - but if he even threatened to leave you or do anything in retaliation - that's all it takes, sweetpea. Extortion and after 8 years of theft, I am certain you have PLENTY of evidence compiled over this.

This could put your husband away for a very long time, since he has stolen 25k from you every year for the last eight years.

And excuse me, he says you have to get a JOB after he retires?

Wait. You are quite literally pulling in 25k a year from inheritance, plus more when your dad's property will be sold. He has supposedly INVESTED this money, so that $200,000, if he has invested it PROPERLY- should have GROWN exponetially over the last eight years.

You could potentially be the owner of more than $500,000 if YOUR invested money is doing what it's supposed to be.

*Author Pauses To Take A Breath, To Steady Her Hands Which Are Trembling In Absolute RAGE On Your Behalf So That She Can Ask Very Calmly*

So.... can you tell me again... why you have to get a job after he retires?

This man is evil. He is straight-up imprisoning you. You are being abused. In the most manipulative and subtle way. He is keeping you prisoner, mooching and siphoning away your money.

You need to ask him to show you the investments with YOUR money. I hate to put this in the universe, and I PRAY that it's not the case - But are you SURE he invested that money? Or has he blown it? You have no clue, do you? Because he will not let you.

This is bad. You are in a bad situation. Luckily, you have plenty of opportunities to fix it.

Tell that man to give you back your money, or you will rake him over the coals in court, during AND AFTER the divorce. Tell him you will put him in prison. I do not care what you have to say. Please get your money back because that is legally YOUR money, NOT HIS. And get away from this monster.

And what he has done is commit a very serious crime. If he's extorting you, what else is he doing that could ruin you and your child's life? This feels like a much deeper scandal, even though I hope it's not. If he's caught up in this kind of behavior, he WILL make a mistake one day. And it will put you and your daughter in danger.

But Phoenix, what if he doesn't give it back?

Just so you know, if your name is on the account as a co-owner, so long as you have the information to verify yourself with the bank, you have the same rights and access to every dime of it that he does.

Which means you can do ANYTHING you want with that money, just like he could.

Not to mention...

In general, federal investigation of theft or robbery typically occurs when the value of the stolen property or the amount of money involved is $5,000 or more, and it crosses state lines. - Google

Can a wife press charges if a husband steals her inheritance and keeps it from her?

Yes, a wife can potentially press charges or pursue legal action against her husband if he coerces her into giving him her inheritance and refuses to allow her access to it. This situation could be viewed as financial abuse and may lead to criminal or civil penalties.

Elaboration:

1. Financial Abuse:

Financial abuse involves manipulating or controlling a spouse's financial resources to maintain power and control.

This can include forcing someone to give up inheritance or other assets.

It's a form of domestic violence.

2. Potential Legal Actions:

Criminal Charges:

Depending on the specific circumstances, the husband's actions could be considered criminal offenses like fraud, theft, or duress.

Civil Lawsuit:

The wife can sue for financial abuse and intentional interference with inheritance (IIWI).

I wish you good luck - and I pray that any other Phoenix who is going through something like this finds this article and it helps.

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