Can a beneficiary be forced to reveal a possible inheritance?

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Can a beneficiary be forced to reveal a possible inheritance?

My soon to be ex is asking me to reveal my father’s assets in order to claim I don’t need maintenance. My father is still alive and I am currently his only beneficiary according to his current will. Is this possible. I live in Wisconsin.

Asked on January 31, 2018 under Family Law, Wisconsin

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

No, they cannot do this, because it is purely hypothetical what, if anything, you might inherit: your father could outlive you; your father could leave most or all to someone else (a charity, a significant other, a caregiver, etc.)--that is, he could change his will anytime  he wants, and a will has *no* effect until the person making it passes away; your father could spend or lose his money (live an extravagant lifestyle; make bad investments; be defrauded; etc.). So there is NO way to know how much, if anything, you will get, or when; but the law does not deal in hypothetical or unprovable situations. So your father's assets (which are not your own) are not relevant and not discoverable.


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