Great Aunt Sally's Piano
Here's a little story to highlight why we need a current will.
Great Aunt Sally was everyone's favorite aunt. She was a wonderful lady who taught music lessons. She made sure all of the nieces and nephews knew how to play. Some were naturally more gifted than others and took their lessons to heart while others could never get past a bad rendition of "Chopsticks".
She taught everyone on an old upright that her husband Uncle Bob had given her on their 5th wedding anniversary. That piano became a family treasure as the nieces and nephews she had taught earlier now sent their children to Great Aunt Sally for piano lessons.
Eventually Great Aunt Sally peacefully passed away in her sleep at the age of 96. Great Aunt Sally and her husband had made out their wills many years before and put them aside. After a beautiful funeral it was time to gather the family together and read the will. It was a very standard will. Great Aunt Sally left everything to her beloved husband, Robert. Robert had however predeceased Aunt Sally 10 years earlier. Next in line was Robert Jr. Unfortunately Junior had been a casualty during the Vietnam War and died without ever marrying or having children.
Since there were no living heirs, the family decided to divide her belongings among themselves. Everything went along fine until they got to the piano. Each member of the family held dear memories of sitting there with Aunt Sally as she taught them the scales and each member felt that they should have the piano.
The family has been left in turmoil. Some members don't speak to each other anymore. The estate went into probate while the court decides the dispersal of Aunt Sally's keepsakes. Many of the more valuable items, including Aunt Sally's antique piano have been sold to pay lawyers and court costs. A current will would have settled the issue and Aunt Sally's treasures would still be among the family heirlooms.
Great Aunt Sally was everyone's favorite aunt. She was a wonderful lady who taught music lessons. She made sure all of the nieces and nephews knew how to play. Some were naturally more gifted than others and took their lessons to heart while others could never get past a bad rendition of "Chopsticks".
She taught everyone on an old upright that her husband Uncle Bob had given her on their 5th wedding anniversary. That piano became a family treasure as the nieces and nephews she had taught earlier now sent their children to Great Aunt Sally for piano lessons.
Eventually Great Aunt Sally peacefully passed away in her sleep at the age of 96. Great Aunt Sally and her husband had made out their wills many years before and put them aside. After a beautiful funeral it was time to gather the family together and read the will. It was a very standard will. Great Aunt Sally left everything to her beloved husband, Robert. Robert had however predeceased Aunt Sally 10 years earlier. Next in line was Robert Jr. Unfortunately Junior had been a casualty during the Vietnam War and died without ever marrying or having children.
Since there were no living heirs, the family decided to divide her belongings among themselves. Everything went along fine until they got to the piano. Each member of the family held dear memories of sitting there with Aunt Sally as she taught them the scales and each member felt that they should have the piano.
The family has been left in turmoil. Some members don't speak to each other anymore. The estate went into probate while the court decides the dispersal of Aunt Sally's keepsakes. Many of the more valuable items, including Aunt Sally's antique piano have been sold to pay lawyers and court costs. A current will would have settled the issue and Aunt Sally's treasures would still be among the family heirlooms.
3 people like it
Advertise on APSense
This advertising space is available.
Post Your Ad Here
Post Your Ad Here
Comments (10)
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
It's time for a reminder of why we all need to have our wills drafted and regularly updated
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Juenelle she's not just my Great Aunt but anyone's. I have seen lots of family's fall out over heirlooms, whether to sell off things, what to sell off even over donating clothes to the Salvation Army. It's a shame when you think about what actually sets off these family feuds.
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Hi I'm still playing catch up. And yes that is a perfect description. I don't think any one of them even knows where it is now.
Paula Gaon7
An excellent example of cutting
off the nose to spite the face!
Paula/BoomSpress
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
I still remember when I was small a family very close to ours fell out over a rolling pin. Everybody wanted it because they remembered how the grandmother would use it on Saturday mornings to roll out biscuit dough. Not one of them could bake anything that didn't come in a box.
Robin Watson3
prof
This is so true! It's not the monetary value so much as the sentimental value that will tear families apart.
Excellent advice!
Robin
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
I always hear people say "I don't have anything valuable" People don't realize that value is about more than the amount of money, it's about where your treasures go too. There are so many families that don't speak because they are arguing over china, silverware, curios and other "little" items. A will puts all of that to rest so families can heal instead of feud.
Jeff Greene8
Online Marketing Specialist/Consultant
I can't begin to count the number of times that families will go through something like this every single day... Your advice is very good and timely as always, Cheryl! :)