Questions about marriage and debts, and marital ets.?

yes, you could be responsible for the 5000 dollars. yes, once your married everything including your income is a joint et, and the only way that an inheritance is not a joint et is if you would die before that relative. then it would go to your kids, or their kids if they died. if you had no kids, then the remaining relatives would share in the inheritance. the only way your other half would be able to get it was if it was also willed to him or her!!!