What condition must be satisfied for property received via inheritance to be considered separate property?

For property received via inheritance to be considered separate property, it must typically maintain its character as separate property throughout the marriage. However, a key aspect of managing inherited property is understanding that it can become marital property under certain circumstances. This means if the inherited property is commingled with marital assets, used for marital purposes, or if the inheriting spouse takes actions that indicate an intent to treat the property as marital (such as making significant improvements with marital funds), it can lose its separate property status.

In contrast, while remaining in its original form or not being used by the marital family can influence its classification, they are not strict requirements for maintaining separate property status. These aspects address how inherited property might be treated, but inheritance itself is foundationally considered separate unless specific actions change that classification. Thus, recognizing the potential for inherited property to become marital property under certain conditions is crucial for understanding how the law treats such assets in the context of marriage.