Leaving your ukes.

Type this up, fill in the blanks, and put one in the case of each instrument.


In the event that no one in my family wishes to own or sell this instrument,
it is my wish that it be given to _______________ in my memory and with
my complements.

(Make, model, description)

In earnest,


____________________



Many of my instruments were gifts, and I would like them returned to the giver if possible. Others I have specific friends that I know would appreciate and play them, or perhaps make sure they end up in the hands of someone that will. My wife is aware of these little notes, btw.


Scooter
 
Well I do have a will but it doesn't itemize every item that I have and specifically designate where each will go.

FWIW, my will is set up so that it refers to a 'limited property' addendum. In it I list my hand tools, some power tools, high end, custom bikes, and my ukes with names to whom I want them gifted. I can change the addendum any time without formally amending the master will. As long as I indicate the effective date of the previous addendum and what the changes are, it will be honored as part of the will. Of course, work with your attorney to make sure the two documents are properly integrated.
 
out of all of my ukes I have a few I plan to pass on to my good friends who are ukulele performers, they are in their 30's and have kids who will be in love with music...when I stated my uke journey this was always my plan...
 
I work in a drug and alcohol service. So many sensitive and artistic people seem to end up in addiction, often having played an instrument in better times. Many go back to music in recovery or learn how for the first time. If my kids don't want my ukes I want them to go to the centre. It would be nice for someone else to get the same happiness I do from playing them.
 
Lots of thoughts given here. I know people think about it. When I started the thread I wasn't concerned for myself, I just wondered how emotionally attached they are to their ukes and if they are concerned that they will be well cared for after they are gone. I'm not in the least. My kids are pretty intelligent and if they sell them they will figure out what they are worth. And if they decide to give them away that is fine too. I'm not going to leave any detailed instructions for them. But the whole thing isn't about me, it is about what other people are thinking.
 
When I'm dead, I won't be worrying about my ukes. My poor son will have to deal with the mess I leave behind - the ukes, cameras, and a garage full of stuff. I suppose I should leave a list of how much each one cost as a guide. There's the old joke, you don't want your wife to sell your stuff for the amount you told her you paid for it. :D
 
out of all of my ukes I have a few I plan to pass on to my good friends who are ukulele performers, they are in their 30's and have kids who will be in love with music...when I stated my uke journey this was always my plan...

Ah, that's a good idea. Have the ukulele club meet for a reading of the will to see who gets what. Most of these people are in my age group, though, so how many will out-live me?

Geez, how did we get on this topic? That's enough for me. I'm just afraid I'll die before I finish everything on my To Do list.
 
Type this up, fill in the blanks, and put one in the case of each instrument.


In the event that no one in my family wishes to own or sell this instrument,
it is my wish that it be given to _______________ in my memory and with
my complements.

(Make, model, description)

In earnest,


____________________



Many of my instruments were gifts, and I would like them returned to the giver if possible. Others I have specific friends that I know would appreciate and play them, or perhaps make sure they end up in the hands of someone that will. My wife is aware of these little notes, btw.


Scooter

You might also mention how much it could sell for. I'm sure a relative would hate to give away a $2,000 uke.
 
This is my day job. My take on it is this:

1. Grief can make people behave in ways they ordinarily wouldn't.
2. If you don't name the ukes in the Will, they will most likely be sold into a pot to form your residuary estate. Instructions you give outside your Will are not to be relied on.
3. Specialist collections (like ukuleles) can be difficult to sell for a sensible value. You may think it is as straightforward as putting things on eBay, but that's a really onerous job for your executors. Most likely, they will hire a clearance company who will offer a tiny amount of the true value of your instruments, then flog them at auction or through eBay.

If the instruments have significant value or one or more of your family members might want them, name them in your Will. It saves a lot of arguments and ill feeling. Sometimes solicitors become major beneficiaries in people's estates because of arguments over chattels. I knew of two sisters who ended up ruining their relationship and each owing £75,000 in legal fees over a house that was worth £150,000.

So much better to have a properly drafted Will that disposes of everything in an unambiguous way.
 
My band mate and bestie gets all my concert ukes, my wife or daughter will get my banjouke. If my daughter keeps playing, she'll get another uke as well, but she is devoting more time to photography and painting now.
 
This is my day job. My take on it is this:

1. Grief can make people behave in ways they ordinarily wouldn't.
2. If you don't name the ukes in the Will, they will most likely be sold into a pot to form your residuary estate. Instructions you give outside your Will are not to be relied on.
3. Specialist collections (like ukuleles) can be difficult to sell for a sensible value. You may think it is as straightforward as putting things on eBay, but that's a really onerous job for your executors. Most likely, they will hire a clearance company who will offer a tiny amount of the true value of your instruments, then flog them at auction or through eBay.

If the instruments have significant value or one or more of your family members might want them, name them in your Will. It saves a lot of arguments and ill feeling. Sometimes solicitors become major beneficiaries in people's estates because of arguments over chattels. I knew of two sisters who ended up ruining their relationship and each owing £75,000 in legal fees over a house that was worth £150,000.

So much better to have a properly drafted Will that disposes of everything in an unambiguous way.

Thanks for this. I think sometimes people don't consider the task they're leaving for their family of having to go through what's been left behind, on top of the grief and loss. Even when there's not disagreement about the estate, having to figure out what to do with all of it can be burdensome. Especially if there's a lot of stuff. In addition to helping avoid conflict, clear instructions can just help lighten the load.
 
This is selfish advice. Stupid advice too if you're talking about instruments that could be worth as much as a secondhand car.

While your relatives may not want the instrument, most would want the money. Do you really want a house clearance company getting your family's money because you were too thoughtless to make a plan? Because that is what you are doing.

Spend a bit of time getting a Will written. Plan as much as you can, so your kids don't have to argue about what you may or may not have wanted. It saves a lot of trouble for your family later on.
 
Is it possible to have a "Uke" executor (sort of a sub-executor) whose job it would be to sell all the ukes within a year or two and give the money to some charity that the deceased wanted? If I were 20 years younger I would be happy to do this for someone: I would love to have the opportunity to play some special high end ukes for a year or two while working to sell them to raise money for a good cause.
 
That would be a trust. It's possible, but maybe not practical.

You could gift the instruments to an executor on the condition that they administer your estate, but after you've given something away you can't say who it goes to. It's no longer yours to do that. Of course you could give the executor some general guidance and tell them you'd like that. But it's just a request.

No-one has ever asked me about either of these scenarios, honestly.

Charities employ solicitors whose job is to spot where executors are trying to diddle them out of income. They can be really, really pushy. It would give some people quite different views of their favourite charities if they ever had to deal with some of them.
 
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You've changed your tune from page two:

Bill1 said:
Let them work out what to do with them after you are dead and save yourself some stress while you are alive.

Definitely don't do your own Will, or rely on Internet experts! Seriously, if you are in England or Wales and want to talk about this, drop me a line. This is what I do for a living.

One of the things I'd never do is tell people to give away their instruments before they die. It is sad to unnecessarily deprive yourself of things that bring you pleasure out of some sense of duty to your kids; at 65 you might have another 30 years of playing and enjoyment. Do whatever brings YOU pleasure now. Just make sure that there will be no arguments over things after you've gone. It's all very well to make gifts of stuff while you're alive, but you can't make gifts and then expect to have the benefit of owning the item. If you give your prized old Martin to your grandson, you can do nothing if he wants to sell it and buy a set of alloy wheels for his car.

No one necessarily wants the instruments. However more than one of your descendants may well want the cash and see the instruments as such, which means a valuable chattel can become a bone of contention. If you give clear instructions, the contention is gone. It's simply effective planning.
 
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One of the things I'd never do is expect them to take my opinions as the gospel truth and go away and act on them without seeking competent advice.

This is one of the things I'm able to give competent advice on.

As discussed before the topic is great for discussion on Uke Talk, and everyone should have a chance to voice an opinion or make some input. Maybe you can take idle discussion far too seriously?

Maybe. I have pointed out that in the real world people do the things you suggest, and it causes their kids a huge amount of trouble later on. My industry makes a lot of money out of people who don't plan properly.
 
FWIW, my will is set up so that it refers to a 'limited property' addendum. In it I list my hand tools, some power tools, high end, custom bikes, and my ukes with names to whom I want them gifted. I can change the addendum any time without formally amending the master will. As long as I indicate the effective date of the previous addendum and what the changes are, it will be honored as part of the will. Of course, work with your attorney to make sure the two documents are properly integrated.

This is what our attorneys drafted for us as well as they drew up our will and estate plan. The attorneys also encouraged us to share the details with family members so that there are no surprises.
 
I've been reading this thread with interest, and no small amount of bemusement at times. If it is of any comfort, your ukuleles may end up having a value and life you dont anticipate. My uncle had a Harmony baritone uke, and after a divorce or two and no kids I cant imagine he had any expectations for it. He died, it went to live with my grandmother along with the rest of his stuff, and then on to my mother's home when she died. Evrntually the neck snapped off in the dry heat of Arizona.

About 30 years later a nephew he barely knew becalme passionate about the instrument and remembered the family heirloom he'd played with during long stretches of boredom on his annual childhood trips to visit grandma. He rescued the instrument, had it repaired, and it is now in rotation...probably being played more than at any other point in it's life. It's a great piece of family and ukulele history, and a connection to an uncle I barely knew. Sometimes these things surprise you.

Braddah

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