Settling Your Estate
By Joyce Brite
Regarding Tom Steuer's "Tushinsky Music Collection Sold" and Bob and Sonja Lemon's "Junk-Bin Perforator" from MMD, Feb. 26, 1997.
> The sad part of this story. The man was a composer and had a stack of
> music that was at least a foot high. His niece, who was the
> administrator, would not allow us to look at the music and said that
> since he had signed all of them, she was going to destroy it. She
> would not allow anything with his name or signature to be saved. Such
> a loss! A life time of loving music and all was destroyed.
The experience that Bob and Sonja Lemon described is, unfortunately, all too common. What happens to one's possessions after death has been touched on briefly and subtly in the MMD from time to time, but never openly discussed. Perhaps this is the appropriate time.
Many of you have valuable and cherished collections of mechanical musical instruments which you have spent much of your lives acquiring and maintaining. Have you made _written_ plans as to their dispensation once you are gone?
Just for your information, both my parents and all of my grandparents are deceased. Also, three members of my extended family passed away last year, and one the year before. My family and I have had to confront the issues related to administering wills and property disposal, and I have traded many stories with others who have had to do the same.
If you own property or have valuable collections of any kind, and you have specific wishes as to their disposal once you are gone, *Put it in writing!* Do not rely on others to make these decisions for you.
When drawing up a will, one of the first decisions you must make is who to name as executor. My recommendation is to name someone who does not have a vested interest in your property, i.e., is not your heir. An executor who is also an heir is sometimes too close to the situation to make impartial decisions when conflicts arise. Naming an executor who is not an heir may cost more, but it is well worth the expense.
Your heirs, no matter how good their character, or how honorable their intentions, can still make mistakes. Without a written will to guide them, they are left to their own judgment. The more guidance they are given, the better the decisions they will make. Your heirs may see that half-repaired player piano or that broken music box as junk, and not realize the value it may have to someone else. Further, they may not know any of your contacts in the mechanical music world. Assist your heirs by providing them with the names of potential buyers who will pay top dollar for your precious collection, or any other helpful information.
The bottom line is: *Put it in writing!*
Thanks,
Joyce Brite |
(Message sent Thu 27 Feb 1997, 23:10:45 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.) |
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