There is an interesting article that claims, "Your house, and what it contains, is a minefield in the eyes of your grown children. They can see from your example that collections of stuff are a curse; such objects are superfluous to a life well lived."
Well, perhaps this is true – but in my experience there are some items that your children and grandchildren may treasure and would love to inherit from you. And then we may know of families that have had major difficulties because more than one member wanted a particular item.
So, what should we do when considering how to distribute our "stuff" – commonly referred to as household goods and personal effects? Consider:
Asking your children what, if anything, they would like to have when you no longer need it.
Writing a letter of instructions to include with your Will or Trust that lists exactly who gets what and why they are the named recipient.
Placing the name of the recipient somewhere on the item via sticky note, tape, etc. This confirms your intent.
Distributing tangible items is just one of many areas of planning that provide you with an opportunity to discuss your plans with your family.
If we can help you create a plan which reflects that the people we love are more important than the items we own, please feel free to contact me. You can reach me via e-mail or phone at mschrage or 417.782.0060.
