Are you prepared to transfer the yellow pie plate?

Are you prepared to pass on your personal property as part of the inheritance process? Review these questions to help you think about the challenges you and your family may face.

Which of the following statements apply to you?

• I need to learn what belongings are important to others and why.
• I'm not sure how to make fair decisions about belongings.
• I need more information about different strategies for passing on belongings.
• I have given this some thought, but have no specific plans in writing.
• I have a will but there are no instructions about personal property. Instead it says something like "Divide my personal possessions equally among my children."
• I have important keepsakes or family heirlooms. I have not written down their history or significance.
• I have a plan for passing on my personal belongings, but I worry that no one will carry out my wishes.
• I want to get my affairs in order because I have a serious illness or health condition.
• I need to prepare for a move to a smaller home, apartment, nursing home, or assisted living facility.
• I expect disagreements about who should get what.
• I've found it hard to start conversations with my family about inheritance and death.

Understanding your results

These concerns and challenges are very common in families of all kinds. If you've said yes to any of the statements above, you're not alone. It may be helpful to learn more about passing on personal possessions.

As a child or other potential property recipient, how do you know if your family is prepared to pass on personal property as part of the inheritance process? Review these questions to help you think about the challenges you and your family may face. This may be helpful as you deal with aging parents or parents-in-law, or as you cope following a death.

Which of the following statements apply to you?

• My family has not discussed what belongings have meaning for us and why.
• My family has discussed who will get what. There are no written plans.
• My family member has a will but there no are instructions about personal property. Instead it says something like "Divide my personal possessions equally among my children."
• There are important keepsakes or family heirlooms. No one has written down their history or significance.
• My family member has a plan for passing on belongings. I worry that no one will carry out his or her wishes.
• I expect disagreements about who should get what.
• I've found it hard to start conversations with my family about inheritance and death.
• I'm not sure how to make fair decisions about belongings.
• I need more information about different strategies for passing on belongings.
• My family member needs to get his or her affairs in order because of a serious illness or health condition.
• My family member needs to prepare for a move to a different home (apartment, nursing home, etc.).

Understanding your results

These concerns and challenges are very common in families of all kinds. If you've said yes to any of the statements above, you're not alone. It may be helpful to learn more about passing on personal possessions.

When someone prepares a will, they will often appoint a person to represent them after death. This is called a "personal representative" or "executor." Family members, especially adult children, are often appointed to this role.

Are you prepared to assist in carrying out someone else's will and settling the estate? Review these questions to help you think about the challenges you may face in this role.

Which of the following statements apply to you?

• The will I am responsible for contains no specific instructions about personal belongings. Instead it says something like "Divide my personal possessions equally among my children."
• I know verbal promises have been made and there are expectations about who will get what. No specific plans are in writing nor referred to in the will.
• I know there are important keepsakes or family heirlooms in the estate. There has been no discussion nor plans made for these items
• I expect disagreements about who should get what.
• I am responsible for carrying out the deceased person's wishes. Family and friends may not respect those wishes.
• I'm not sure how to make fair decisions about belongings.
• I will need more information about different strategies for passing on belongings.
• Others may resent my role as executor and question my motives or actions.

Understanding your results

These concerns and challenges are very common among personal representatives or executors. This is especially so when the appointed person is an adult child of the deceased. If you've said yes to one or more of the statements above, you are not alone. It may be helpful to learn more about passing on personal possessions.

In your educator or professional role, you may be asked to help someone pass on personal property. Review the statements below to help you think about the challenges you may face in this role.

Which of the following statements apply to you?

• I’m not sure how to help my client decide on a fair way to divide belongings.
• I need more information about different property distribution strategies to be more helpful.
• My client has a will but it contains no instructions about personal belongings. Instead it says something like "Divide my personal possessions equally among my children."
• Teaching clients about personal property inheritance is a useful service I could provide.
• I know my client has important keepsakes or family heirlooms. No one has written down their history or significance.
• My client has a plan for passing on belongings. I worry the family will not carry out his or her wishes.
• I often find my clients and their family members disagreeing about who should get what.
• I need to motivate my client to plan in advance for how to transfer personal property.
• My client needs to get his or her affairs in order because of a serious illness or health condition.
• My client needs to prepare for a move to a different home (apartment, nursing home, etc.).
• I've found it hard to start conversations about inheritance and death.
• I am spending too much time mediating family conflicts over personal possessions.

Understanding your results

These concerns and challenges are very common for professionals helping families. If you've said yes to one or more of the statements above, you are not alone. It may be helpful to learn and teach about passing on personal possessions.