I’ve been married 7 years and have 8 kids from a previous marriage — will I be entitled to my mother-in-law’s home when she dies?

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In Maryland, when a spouse dies when there are minor children involved, the remaining spouse inherits 50% of intestate property — that is, property that is not covered by a last will and testament. In such cases, each state follows its own laws governing such situations. The minor descendant — in this case, the child you had together — then inherits everything else. Your children from a previous relationship are not considered descendants of your husband.

However, there is another wrinkle to your husband’s expected inheritance. Even in a community-property state, gifts and inheritance are not regarded as marital property and, therefore, not divided equally in a divorce. The same applies to Maryland’s equitable-distribution laws: Your husband would keep his mother’s home, assuming he pre-deceases you. On the upside, your only child would likely inherit your mother-in-law’s home after her father dies.

In the meantime, I do hope your mother-in-law makes a full recovery.

Also see: ‘He’s a hoarder, not like on TV, but close!’ My sisters took valuables from my ailing father’s home as payment for cleaning

Do you have questions about inheritance, tipping, weddings, family feuds, friends or any tricky issues relating to manners and money? Send them to MarketWatch’s Moneyist and please include the state where you live (no full names will be used).

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