Mortality And Protecting Your Non-Collecting Heirs

If I were an old dude and no one was interested in my collection I'd more then likely sell it all. But hopefully I have a few more decades to go. One of the reasons I am prepared is that I don't know what tomorrow holds. I'd hate to see a month after my inevitable accident death that my family sells my entire collection for face or Way low to a coin shop when they have no idea.

But don't you guys worry....you are stuck with me through the long haul

My thoughts also Carl. Thanks for the post. Hope your health continues to improve. I just want all the effort and time I spent in accumulating this collection to transfer into value for the ladies I love and leave behind. It won't make any difference to me after I am gone, but it will to them. They call me "ole Yellow" in my house with good reason (it was an old disney movie about an over protective dog). This is the second time I have run this post and practically no good suggestions as to who I could trust to refer them to to sell the collection. Makes me think that not too many here have give this any thought.

Many are young, and many still think they are invincible, or both. The rest of us have seen enough (and buried enough) to know better. I'm cataloging absolutely everything exactly for this reason. My collection will have a printed list attached of exactly what is worth what, what books to look in and where they are located, and who to call if they need more information or to sell.




just carl.. I hear you! My feeling is.. if I try to explain and show about something that means something to me, especially in order to preserve the value of something I care about (not to mention an inheritance), but my heir(s) do not have enough respect to at least pay attention, then they don't deserve the fruits of my life's labors.

I can understand someone not having the same passion as me.. that's fine. Everyone is different. But respect me enough to care that *I* care. And act like you care enough to at least attempt to preserve it, if not for you, then for your own heirs.

I would rather have someone else enjoy what I have worked so hard to build than have it go to an uncaring person, no matter who it is. So I would either find someone else (a friend, another relative, whatever) to give my collection to when I go, or find a charity to will it to who would squeeze every penny available out of the collection. We're never guaranteed, either way, but at least there would be a better chance that my time, energy, money, blood, sweat and tears would not have been for nothing. Matter of fact, if it comes down to it, I might just find a waterproof box and bury it somewhere for an enterprising metal detectorist to find some years down the road.

The only stickler is when you have children or a spouse and he/she/they will need the funds. In that case, you make the list of items, values, and places to sell, and no matter how morbid they think you're being, sit their happy behinds down and go over it all. Or you find a trusted friend to sell it for you after you're gone (like how WLHalves has done), or you sell it yourself first if you can, and put it in trust. No guarantees with the first 2, human nature being what it is. At least with the last option, you'd make sure you got top dollar for your spouse.

Everyone's family is different and you're the only one who knows what they would do or how they would handle it after you're gone. It also depends on if you would rather they keep it or sell it. After you know all that, you can really narrow down the options available. Just keep in mind that spouses/heirs don't always follow instructions... and if you want something done right, do it yourself.