Estate planning allows people to control what happens to their possessions after their passing. Without a legally recognized plan in place, the government may dictate how someone’s assets are distributed. While there are numerous informal approaches to estate planning, not all are legally recognized. This may create confusion and spark conflict among families during an already challenging time. 

To increase consumer knowledge on estate planning and asset distribution, the Carter County Extension Office hosted a workshop in 2023 from Transferring Cherished Possessions curriculum as part of a monthly Lunch and Learn series. Lunch and Learn lessons are open to the public, but also provide the Homemaker lessons for leaders.  They serve as a train-the-.trainer lesson where leaders attend and then take the materials back to their communities and teach to others. The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent also taught the lesson to a group of senior adults at a local assisted living facility.  Forty participants attended the workshops directly, but the information then reached close to 100 carter county residents because of the leaders sharing. 

The participants showed such eagerness to learn more about this topic that the four part series was then offered in 2024 to expand on the original knowledge. Six individuals completed that program that spanned over four weeks. 

Participants completed an initial and a follow-up evaluation.  Evaluations placed educational emphasis on four things:

1. Understanding the importance of clear family goals in determining how non-titled property will be distributed upon death.
2. Determining what "fair" distribution means for the division of non-titled assets.
3. Identifying different methods for distributing personal property.
4. Communicating estate plans clearly while minimizing family conflict.

As a result of participating in the Transferring Cherished Possessions series, 100% of respondents indicated they were better able to understand where to start estate planning for non-titled possessions; 100% better understood how to consider fairness when making a plan to distribute their assets; 100% better understood different methods of asset distribution; and 100% gained strategies to more clearly communicate their estate plans and goals with loved ones.  

 Further, reported behavior changes included:

1. 100% wrote a Letter of Last Instructions.
2. 100% created an Asset Distribution Plan.
3. 100% discussed their estate plans with someone.

One participant decluttered her home and storage buildings, only keeping cherished and useful possessions. She reported how thankful she was for this series and how life changing it was for her and her family.