Navigating Family Dynamics in Estate Planning: A Guide
Asking Eric: Daughter thinks sorting through mom’s stuff now is helpful
Mlive
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A daughter seeks advice on sorting through her mother's belongings while respecting her wishes. She aims to prevent future disputes among siblings over their mother's possessions, but her mother seems resistant to the process. The advice emphasizes the importance of involving the mother in decision-making and respecting her autonomy.
- 01The daughter is the Power of Attorney for her mother's estate and wants to organize her belongings before her passing.
- 02The mother appears uncomfortable with her daughter sorting through her possessions, indicating a need for more involvement in the process.
- 03Eric advises the daughter to seek her mother's permission and guidance on how to handle her belongings, rather than proceeding without her consent.
- 04The importance of an end-of-life plan and a will is highlighted to prevent future disputes among siblings.
- 05The advice stresses that the burden of sorting through belongings should not fall solely on the mother or the daughter.
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In a letter to R. Eric Thomas, a daughter expresses her concerns about organizing her mother’s belongings due to her age and disability. As the Power of Attorney, she wants to ensure that important items are sorted before her mother passes away, to avoid potential disputes among her five siblings. However, she notices her mother’s reluctance to have her go through her things, which may indicate that her mother feels sidelined in the process. Eric advises the daughter to reassess her approach, suggesting that she should seek her mother’s permission and direction before proceeding. He emphasizes that while it’s important to prepare for the future, the mother should not feel like she’s being treated as if she’s already gone. Eric underscores the need for an end-of-life plan and a will to help mitigate future conflicts among siblings, while also reminding the daughter that the emotional burden should not be solely hers or her mother’s.
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