When someone dies, the disposition of their personal items, heirlooms and keepsakes are often the greatest source of contention among their surviving family members. However, during their lifetime many people fail to make arrangements to direct how those personal items should be distributed upon their death. Sometimes they make verbal assurances to certain family members during their lifetime, promising to leave them certain items upon death, but those promises are never put into writing. In order to avoid conflicts over the distribution of such items, and possibly avoid a lifetime of hard feelings between surviving relatives, it’s important to properly address these issues in your estate plan.

WHAT IS TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY?

The term tangible personal property refers to items of a personal nature, including things such as household goods, furniture, furnishings, jewelry, precious stones, photographs, books, silverware, china, crystal, antiques, paintings, sculptures and other works of art, collections, clothing, tools, machinery, equipment, appliances, automobiles, watercraft, recreational vehicles and equipment, pets, and other such personal effects

Tangible personal property does not include assets such as money, real estate, securities, stocks, bank accounts, investment accounts, promissory notes, IOU’s, or similar assets. Continue reading →