Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate or Grandpa's Gun?

Distribution of Nontitled Property in North Dakota

Types of PropertyTitled Property

Owner identified by a legal document

Nontitled PropertyOwner is not identified by a legal written document; also called personal property

It's only a pie plate, right?Value of Personal Property Financial value Historical value Sentimental or emotional value

What are the “pie plates” in your life?Your pie plate may not be round, and it may not be yellow, but every family has its pie plate.

Identify the Meaning of Special ItemsTo whom are they special?

Why are they special?

Does it have historical value?

Share the stories that go with objects.

Why plan for distributing personal property? Owner decides where items go Reduces stress on family Reduces conflict among family Passes on family history

Why don’t we plan? I don’t have anything of value. Talking about death is hard. My family can decide when I am

gone. They won’t fight. Family members won’t agree with

my decisions.

Goals for transferring nontitled property Maintaining privacy Improving family relationships Being fair to all involved Preserving memories Rewarding someone Contributing to society

Who to Involve Owners of the property Children In-laws Friends Caregivers Clergy Legal representatives

What does fair mean? Fair may be different in each family. Fair does not always mean equal. What to consider:

Age, birth order Contributions through the years Marital status, need Who is family?

Managing Conflict Discuss method of transfer Establish ground rules Treat others with respect Listen to feelings expressed Say “no” to secrecy

Remember, the owner gets to decide!

Methods of Distributing Lists Gifts Label items Verbal promises Family distribution

More Methods of Distributing Garage sale Estate sale Private auctions Public auction Silent auction Will

North Dakota provides a way to distribute personal property Identify item Identify recipient Dated and signedList may be changed just by making a new list, dating and signing it

Completing the Plan First step is most important Start the discussion Put it in writing Communicate with all involved

Don’t leave keepsakes to chance! Enjoy your keepsakes, most of all.

Then develop a plan to pass these valuable parts of your past on to family, friends.

The best legacy wecan give our heirs:Good feelings about who they are and where they came from

Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate or Grandpa's Gun?

Distribution of Nontitled Property in North Dakota

For more information on this and other topics, see www.ag.ndsu.edu.

For a more detailed program on this topic, contact your local county office of the NDSU Extension Service.

Thank you!