For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 12, 2021

Yep. Money has ripped families apart and it’s not a new thing. As long as there has been currency there has been murder, suicide, and lives destroyed over it. Think long and hard about any financial transactions you do with family or friends.

“the family property”. I like the way Phil thinks about his parents’ belongings.

I remember my ex obsessing over what her sister got of their grandmother’s stuff. And believe me, no one could obsess like my ex.

I’ve seen it time and time again.

The only thing that really matters. Good they realize this.

my husband’s uncle died childless (never married either) and left his apartment to my hubby’s brother and cousin (out of several). Some friends of ours were really upset that my husband didn’t get his “fair share”, but we weren’t. We didn’t need the money but his brother did.

I kind of miss these old cartoons of the old family values. You know the ones where the guy comes home to find his wife with a sewing basket busy sewing and mending. You never see that happen these days like in the new Wonder Woman movie.

When my parents passed, I completely backed off when it came to their stuff. My brother and sister could have it all. I’m better off without more stuff. :P

Maybe…..just maybe Mom and Dad should decide ‘as to who gets what’ i.e. whom they would like see get the ‘thing’ ! ! ! !

My boss & I had a client who had 2 accounts. When he died last year, one account went – in its entirety – to his favorite niece; the other account (which was bigger) was divided among 25 beneficiaries (including a college & a church). Of all the beneficiaries, all responded but one. With the help of above mentioned favorite niece (who IS a sweetheart) we got everything in order. It was one of the most time-consuming, complicated tasks I’ve ever had to handle.

I don’t think he is getting old. The Patterson kids can be noisy and annoying. Just the way kids are. And honest parents consider their kids annoying from time to time, too. Especially once they are no longer babies and can exercise more self control. April can’t help it but Mike and Liz can. Although I can see where Liz is pushed to her limits by Mike more.

You know, it is quite possible that, since Mom and Dad are just moving, they may actually want to keep some of the things most desired by their spawn. Just sayin’.

I really wanted her to day, “I’m pregnant.”

Hang on to that goal and you should be able to get through this just fine.

Georgia has an “April” hair cut.

I’m glad he realizes the potential of a serious rift and is trying to figure out a way of avoiding it. Pretty mature for THIS character!

Yeah; staying “friendly” after any division of assets – parents or by divorce – can be tricky.

A real issue. I, have not spoken to my sister since 1996 when our mother passed.

This is so on target that it isn’t funny. Those who haven’t been there yet tend to go skipping merrily through life. Wait ’til it happens to you, though, folks. And it will. Be ready for anything. Trust me on that one.

I had Aunt and Uncle my mom’s siblings, the brother took over, and sister got very angry and not speak to her brother for over 40 years, then found out brother’s wife died from heart failure and she got back in his graces. For my sister and I on would be parent’s stuff, most of it we did not have room, so I wanted it sold, my sister grabbed mom’s wedding set and let me have diamond ring. A lot of household furniture we sold before we sold other stuff. Hobbies my mom did never did sale. My sister and I determine never do as our Uncle and Aunt did not speak, we wanted to stay close.

My family cared more about the stuff than the friendship.

When I’m gone my family will have a HUGE yard sale.

Any probate lawyer can tell you tons of stories of how greed for mom and dad’s stuff wrecks families

Most of the times, it’s not the stuff itself, but the memories and stories that come with it. Reason enough to dump everything they owned when they left this world.

that is always the problem

Maybe Phil you should be glad that you and Geo don’t have children. They are a big pain. When things get hairy that’s when the Court comes. The Judge gonna make a permenant ruling which person get what. Courts are expensive. Be like profectional grownups Phil and Lizzi and sort this out yourselves. You twice too old to run to mummy or daddy with your problem. They just too old for that.

Beautiful sentiment, Phil (and Lynn). One would wish that we all felt that way.

My problem is that both of my natural parents outlived my step-parents. After the divorce, I never lived with my mother so I was not expecting anything from my stepfather when he died in 2005. My father died in 1995 and my stepmother celebrated her 100th birthday about three years ago. Don’t know if she is still alive or not. However, she got a sizable inheritance from her parents which I know will be divided among her three kids. I think she has been living on what ever joint assets she and my father had. Even if she thinks of me in her will (which I am finding unlikely), I don’t think there will be very much left to divide up. A suggestion to remarried folks, it might be nice to make some sort of guaranteed provision in your wills to make sure your natural children do not get shafted by their step-parent. And don’t think it can’t happen with your new spouse. Ask anyone and my stepmother is(was?) the most holy person they know, only they don’t know her ugly, evil side. This is more of an issue at this moment as I could really use the money right now.

That’s sibling rivalry at matured age.

The family heirlooms are just that "heir"looms. Meaning for the heirs. So, the parents are just passing along the goods early so that they do not have to deal with it in their respective wills or so that they do not have to pay storage cost or get rid of it. Not to mention that technically it is personal property, not any other kind of property. Though I really like “family property”. I might have to ask Ms Johnson if I can use that in my practice…except that it is not TM’d…. however, I digress… just a thought on my part.

if only Elly or Phil were an only child, then they’d have their parents’ things

I’m an only. It made things much easier in the end.