When it comes to leaving behind a legacy, most of us think about passing down heirlooms, wisdom, and maybe that secret family recipe. However, there are definitely some items that you might want to skip over in your will unless you’re aiming for posthumous pranking. Here are 18 things you really shouldn’t leave to your children when you shuffle off this mortal coil.
Your Secret Love Letters from Your High School Sweetheart
Some things are better left in the past, and your teenage love life is one of them. Your children don’t need to know the intimate details of your pre-marital romances, so it’s best to take those steamy love letters to the grave.
Your Collection of Hotel Toiletries
Sure, you’ve traveled the world and stayed in countless hotels, but those mini shampoos and lotions aren’t exactly the treasure trove you think they are. Leave your kids memories of those trips, not the tiny bottles you swiped from the bathroom.
Your Timeshare
Timeshares are notoriously difficult to get rid of and often come with annual fees. “If you pass away and your kids inherit the timeshare, they’ll be on the hook for the ongoing — and ever-increasing — contract costs,” writes Kiplinger. Spare your children the headache and financial burden.
Old Magazines
Those stacks of magazines from the 1990s might be a nostalgic trip down memory lane for you, but for your kids, it’s just a recycling project waiting to happen. Unless a signed Beatles album is hidden among them, maybe just let them go.
Expired Canned Goods
We know you were collecting those cans of pork and beans in case of a zombie apocalypse, but your family may not be as concerned. A pantry purge is probably a better idea than leaving your children a time capsule of expired beans and corn. It’s the thought that counts, but maybe not in this case.
Potentially Valuable Collectibles
You’ve kept that Bob Marley autographed record in mint condition, and those coins are probably worth more than your house, but are your kids prepared to deal with them? Duggan Wynn Law Firm warns that collectibles need to be appraised and could end up being an unwanted tax liability for your beneficiaries. If you do plan on leaving them your treasures, make sure they know where to find them so they aren’t throwing away your couch and the diamonds sewn inside at the same time.
Your Collection of Dusty Knick-Knacks
Every little trinket might hold a story for you, but it’s just another thing to dust for your kids. Consider which items hold genuine sentimental value, and maybe part with the rest before you part with the earth. Or you could always ask them which ones they would care to keep.
Guns
In the state of New York, “When a licensed gun owner dies, the person in charge of the decedent’s personal property is technically in illegal possession of the gun and guilty of criminal possession of a weapon,” according to Nelson Elder Care Law. So before you pass along your pew pews, make sure you know the laws in your state and the one they live in, and they are set to receive them before you go.
Businesses
The last thing you want with your business is a confusing delay in transition. According to Trust & Will, “Wills must go through the probate process which eats up a lot of time.” This time could break your business if it’s unable to run. If you plan on leaving your business to a family member, try to have this transition happen before your passing.
Your Tax Returns from 1987
There’s being thorough, and then there’s leaving your children decades of paperwork that serves no purpose. Shred them and spare your kids the paper cuts.
Health Savings Account
Leaving an HSA to your spouse allows them to continue using the money, which can be beneficial. “If you leave an HSA to your child, estate or other organization, it may be considered income in the year it is received,” Yahoo! Finance writes. “They are not allowed to use the tax advantages for their own healthcare, and the income could inadvertently throw your heirs into a higher tax bracket.”
Your Collection of Every Cable Ever
You might need that cable for something, right? But if you don’t know what it connects to, chances are your kids won’t either. This might be more of a puzzle than a gift. Clearly label the cables you understand and let go of the ones that have sat in a box for years. That Atari is long gone; its cord should be, too.
The Family Pet’s Ashes
They were the light of your life, next to your kids, of course (maybe). This can be a sensitive one, but make sure your kids actually want to inherit Fluffy’s ashes before you leave them in the will. Not everyone has the same attachment to the family pets.
Your Diaries
Unless you lived a memoir-worthy life that your children can publish and make some money off of, some thoughts are meant for your eyes only. Consider sparing your children the TMI moments of your life.
The Junk Drawer
Every home has one, but does it really need to be passed down? Spare your kids the mystery of old keys and expired coupons.
Your Spice Rack
When was the last time you checked the expiration date on that paprika? Spices lose their flavor over time, and so does the sentiment if your kids open a jar only to find dust. Refresh before you bequeath.
Your Collection of Broken Things You Meant to Fix
Your honey-do list may be a funny joke to pass along. But if you didn’t get around to fixing them, chances are they won’t either. Skip the broken dreams.
Anything That’s Actually Trash
If you wouldn’t give it to them now, why leave it for them later? A clean sweep can be your final act of kindness.