Guy wrote...
> Not to wander too far off topic and IANAL but I'd suggest that *anyone*
> who is worried about the fate of their collection (or anything in their
> estate for that matter) talk to a lawyer and have their wishes recorded
> in their will (you do have one?). That's what they're for.
I agree with what Guy is saying in principal... and there has to be
something in the official legal document of the will.
However here's the part I'm not so sure can be adressed that way. There are
two problems I see with this. My wishes for the collection may well change
frequently, and the collection itself may change frequently as to contents
through trades, midlife crisis's, wild hairs to get rid of stuff, or
suddenly pick up another listmembers entire collection, etc. So I think the
exact wishes for disposal as well as what constitutes "the collection" will
change way too often, and who wants to update the legal document that
frequently?
I was thinking that more than likely, the people I rub elbows on the list
with most frequently not only have the basic knowledge of what is worth
something and what isn't, and how to best dispose of it... but just through
idle conversations/emails they are most likely to know how I would have
wanted the collection to be dealt with. They would probably be the ones most
likely to have "kept up with" my thoughts and wishes. I certainly can't tell
my wife (or lawyer) who know nothing about computers and collection my
thoughts on each item. They'd be disinterested at the least just on the
basis of sheer volume.
So I am wondering if it wouldn't be best to list several specific listmember
friends in the will as executors of anything computer related, and that's it
for the legal document. Then trust that said friends will have the
compassion for the hobby to make the best decisions about the final
disposition of the collection. There may be one or two specific items in
the collection I have specific wishes for. Those can be part of the will.
But the bulk of it I couldn't begin to put specific wishes on each item.
That I think you just have to find a collector you trust to make the best
call. If you have a specific wish for the entire collection, that can easily
be adressed in a will. But in my case, I don't want the entire collection
going to one place, I want it broken up to as many people as possible. That
makes a simple line item in the will pretty unfeasible.
Regards,
Jay West
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Received on Fri May 14 2004 - 10:56:17 BST