Inheriting Clutter
How to Calm the Chaos Your Parents Leave Behind
- Publisher: W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2020
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Publisher's Description
Every day, hundreds of adult children become middle-aged orphans when their elderly parents pass away... but what should you do with what they’ve left behind? Professional estate liquidator Julie Hall provides essential guidance for any executor, heir, or beneficiary. You’ve heard the horror stories: arguments over stuff, an inheritance lost forever when easily deceived parents are scammed, siblings estranged, an adult heir taken from daily responsibilities for months because of the enormous task of clearing out a childhood home. It doesn’t have to be that way. The Estate Lady, professional estate liquidator Julie Hall, knows what to do. Whether your parents are still living or you’re caught in the middle of a crisis, Inheriting Clutter has solutions. Hall provides trustworthy counsel on how to: Divide your parents’ estate with peace of mind Minimize fighting with siblings during the estate settlement process Clear out the family home in thirty days or less Identify potential items of value in the home Have “that conversation” with your parents Prepare your own children for the future The Estate Lady offers guidance for any executor, heir, or beneficiary, sharing some of her most fascinating stories as well as helpful checklists of the things that need to be done now and at the time of your loss. Inheriting Clutter gives you practical, effective steps for liquidating and distributing your parents’ assets in a way that both honors them and promotes family harmony for generations to come.
Endorsements (5)
“Maybe the most practical book I’ve read in years. This should be on every [adult child’s] must-read list. A sound, down-to-earth, well-written manual for one of the most difficult subjects to discuss with your parents . . . and I’m including the birds and the bees lecture decades earlier.”
“Julie has created a masterpiece on how to help your parents and yourself deal with several very stressful and emotionally charged issues. Julie’s storytelling of examples garnered over years of working with families guides her readers and creates scenarios that they can easily relate to in their own lives. As a certified financial planner, all of my clients will be given a copy of Julie’s book as required reading. This book is the most comprehensive and thoughtful work on a difficult and complex aspect of life. A must-read for [adult children] dealing with everybody’s stuff!”
“As a personal family lawyer, I’ve had to deal with much of the fallout over the issues Julie addresses in her book. Most of us will, at some point, have to care for our parents and their stuff, and it can be an overwhelming burden, but with the information Julie shares, we can avoid many of the potential problems. Julie’s book provides fantastic insight that helps us anticipate difficulties and find workable solutions.”
“It was sharp-witted Benjamin Franklin who observed that in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes. Now, through the wisdom of Julie Hall, you can add a third: dealing with the aftermath of your parent’s death. Inheriting Clutter is an exceptionally well-written and wise book. Both parents and adult children need the wake-up call that Julie so deftly and confidently offers. It speaks with the voice of experience and comforts with a deep empathy for this painful period of life. Mostly, it offers reassurance that at a time of deep grief, adult children can and must be prepared for life’s third certainty. There is no doubt in my mind that this book is essential reading for both older parents and adult children—and it will be especially beneficial if they read it together.”
“Inheriting Clutter is an engaging and comprehensive treatment of the end-of-life dynamics between aging parents and aging children. While this book is complete with helpful summaries and checklists, the author also uses engaging anecdotes that exemplify the importance of the process. I will recommend Inheriting Clutter to my estate planning clients.”
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