Long before it is necessary, start organizing and documenting your wishes. This means putting your wishes for “who gets what” in writing, preferable a legally binding will. Hire a lawyer to prepare the will, or create one yourself online at a reputable online company (such as LegalZoom).

For example, if the eldest son is to inherit the family wedding ring so that he can keep it in the family, document it.  Without express written decisions made in advance, family disputes can rise up. Tell your heirs your wishes so there are no unpleasant surprises after you’re gone. ​

When a family member has passed away, the will is the legal document that has primary precedence is dividing up the remaining personal belongings, according to the law. It doesn’t matter if Grandma always told everyone that Billy should get the art collection: if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t legally count.  

If the deceased prepared an informal list of their wishes  (or marked items with labels, as some people do) AND the heirs can agree to it, try to honor those wishes.  The only people who financially benefit from estate battles are the lawyers involved. ​

If an ailing, aging parent remains in the home and starts “giving away” valuables or cash, the right thing to do is share that information with all the heirs.  Often times the adult child who is the perceived “favorite” benefits from this: this is a sure way to cause family disputes in the future. Take the high road and disclose to other heirs what has already been given to you.

After a family member passes, one of the very first things the Executor should do is change the locks to the house. This measure will prevent any neighbors, service providers, or unscrupulous heirs from “helping themselves” to belongings in the house. Nothing should be removed from the house until all the heirs can go through the home together. Always act with integrity and transparency to avoid family disputes over the belongings. ​

Take the time now to organize, document and talk about your inheritance wishes with your family.  It will solve future battles before they even begin. 

Decluttering your home and donating your items to local non-profit groups is a fantastic way to organize your home...and get a tax deduction. ​ 

​Disclaimer: This information is compiled from many sources and is not intended as tax, investment, financial planning or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. For tax, investment, financial planning or legal advice you are encouraged to consult with your personal advisers

When the organizing and decluttering bug strikes, separate things out to Keep, Discard, or Donate/Recycle piles.

• Keep: these should be items that are actively used, treasured, or loved.  
• Donate: make sure items being donating to charity are in “good or better” condition. Not only is it common sense to only donate quality items, but it’s also the guideline used by the IRS to qualify for a tax deduction.  So: discard/recycle sweat-stained undershirts, but donate the dress shirts that are in great shape but just don't fit anymore.
• Discard/Recycle: the hard truth is that some of the stuff in a home really is just garbage.  Old stained Tupperware that doesn’t have a lid? Toss it. The piles and piles of gift bags that get saved, but never reuse? Recycle them. ​

Trying to figure out what you can easily declutter AND have it make a difference in your local community?

• Do a quick Google search of “donation needs near me” and you'll likely hit the jackpot.
• Most shelters have their immediate needs posted on their websites. Toiletries and personal care items, including travel/ hotel size, are needed at nearly every shelter, all the time.
• Can’t find a local charity to take your item?  Post the item with a picture in the Free section of Craigslist or a Facebook group: it works!  Use caution: never disclose personal information or let strangers inside your home or garage.

Before donating, be sure you are giving to an organization that is a 501 (c)(3) by the IRS. These are organizations that are recognized by the IRS as being tax-exempt by virtue of their charitable programs.

“Big name” charities (think Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, or the Salvation Army) are no-brainers, but if you’re unsure about a group you’re thinking of giving to, you can always check their website or a site that vets non-profit groups, like Charity Navigator.

Have big stuff to donate, but no truck and/or the muscles to get it done?  Try the website Pick Up My Donation: they will find a non-profit group within 15 miles of your zip code and set up the pick-up, at no cost to you.  

Be sure you get a receipt or donation acceptance letter from the non-profit you give to. Keep a file in your glove box or console to organize on-the-go receipts, then transfer them into a permanent file in the house regularly.  

​Related Articles
Donate or Dumpster?: 3 Tips to Know What to Give Away vs. Throw Away
6 Things to Not Bother Collecting Anymore (and How to Tell What IS Worth Holding Onto)

Even though the standardized deduction for individuals and married couples has increased in 2018, it’s still a good idea to keep records of your charitable giving.

Keep track of what you give!  

• Small to medium load: a great way to keep track of items you give to charity is by using an app on your smartphone. The Its Deductible app lets you input your organization, then easily guides you through lists of items, complete with standardized values. At the end of each giving transaction, you can save the report and use it at tax time.
• Large load or house/estate clean out: take the time to document your donation inventory by hand. Document the item, condition, and value. Use a standardized donation valuation guide, such as the Salvation Army one, to tally up your donation.  Any Estate Clearing professional worth their salt will include this in their service package; however, if you are doing a home or estate clean out on your own, be sure to document, document, document. ​

Decluttering, donating and deducting is a great way to organize your home, while making a difference in your community at the same time. ​

Related Articles:
Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.
Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You
5 Steps to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
​

As Americans continue to live in larger and larger homes, we find ourselves able to store a huge amount of sentimental clutter...and we do not get rid of it. Ever. 

As an Estate Clearing Professional and Professional Organizer, I see entire rooms, closets, attics, garages, and even cars overflowing with things people can't get rid of for sentimental reasons. People are using their homes as storage facilities instead of places to actively live their lives. 

In this post I'll be sharing some of my professional tips to  help you get rid of some (but not all) of your sentimental clutter.  

​The first step in getting rid of your sentimental clutter is to mentally prepare yourself.
Take some time to think about why you are holding on to so many sentimental items. Is it because you truly treasure the item? Or does the item remind you of a person?

​Remember, a thing is just a thing, not a person. Don't let your love for a Grandfather morph into love of a thing that reminds you of that him. 

Ask yourself some questions as you go through items

• Does it make me feel happy? Keeping mementos of sad times or events doesn't make your life better. Let it go.
• Does my family expect me to keep this? Family expectations can be difficult to manage.  Have you become  the Keeper of all Historical Photos Since the Beginning of Time, but no one can identify any of the people in those pictures? Let them go. 
• Is keeping it a joy or a burden? Are you excited that you have this item? Or is it more like “I guess I should keep this”? Let it go. 

Give yourself permission to get rid of items that cause, sadness, guilt, burden or zero emotion.

If you decide to let the item go, that is your choice:  you do not need to announce it to your family. Just let it go. 

​Related articles:
Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When It Happens to You
with free Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan
Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.
​
Help Organize Your Aging Parents (While They are Young + Healthy)
with free printable: Two Easy-ish Conversations to Have with Your Aging Parents
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
with free ​Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap

​Kick off your efforts with small projects like greeting cards or souvenir plastic cups. Do you really need to keep a card with a hastily scrawled signature? How many plastic souvenir cups do you actually use? Getting a taste of success, no matter how small, inspires you to keep getting successes.

Taken care of all the easy little things?  Then move on to a little bigger (but not huge) project. Try clearing out your t-shirt drawers of all the shirts you don’t really wear, you just keep because of the sentimental memories.

How about all your old college textbooks, student directories, and papers?  You may want to keep the directory, just to see the old photos, but you should be able to feel confident about donating or recycling all the books and papers.  I guarantee you are not going to need your essay on post-modern theory in 19th century American literature ever again. 
​
Remember, you don’t need to get rid of ALL your sentimental items.  Just weed out the clutter so you have room for the things that truly mean something to you.  

​Be choosy about what you let take up space in your home.  You do not have to keep every single item in a collection.  Keep the best 1-2 items, and let the rest go.

Having a tough time letting the collection go?  Photograph the items!  

What if you DO have enough room in your house to store all your sentimental clutter?  There is still space in the attic!  You can shove one more box underneath the stairs?  Skip right on to Step #5!

If you’re struggling with getting rid of a sentimental item, consider giving it a “soft goodbye”. 

Let’s say you’ve weeded out 20 old sports or concert t-shirts that you don’t need anymore, but can’t bear to discard or donate. Using the “soft goodbye”, allow yourself to wear it one last time and then instead of washing it, put it into the Goodwill bag. This lets you ease out of owning it without a blunt end. 

​Related Articles:
Mom, We Have to Talk: 5 Ways to Discuss Downsizing with your Aging Parents
with free Discussion Cheat Sheet
Assess the Mess: How to Plan Out Downsizing a Home
includes free Room-by-Room Checklist
4 Smart Ideas for Selling Your Stuff Offline...and 1 Really Dumb One
​with free cheat sheet

​Think about it: are you treating your sentimental items like you care about them? Or are they boxed up and shoved in the attic, basement, or back of the guest room closet, creating clutter??  If you care about something enough to keep it, shouldn’t you give it the respect it deserves?

Have tons of photos? Scan them in and set them as a slideshow on your computer. How fun is it to randomly see your 8th grade graduation photo? Put them in a pretty bowl on your coffee table for guests and family to look through and change the pictures out every couple of months.

Honor items that truly have a place in your heart by displaying them in your home.  Have a ceramic bowl you made in art class in 3rd grade?  Pull it out of storage and use it as a change bowl.  Keeping you child's baby blanket they came home from the hospital in?  Cut it into dish towels so you can use and enjoy seeing it everyday! 

The keys to successfully getting rid of your sentimental clutter are mentally preparing, breaking the project down into small steps, and giving yourself permission to let things go. Think about the things you allow to take up space in your home and display or honor things that truly mean something to you. 

Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When It Happens to You
with free Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan
Help Organize Your Aging Parents (While They are Young + Healthy)
with free printable: Two Easy-ish Conversations to Have with Your Aging Parents
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
with free ​Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap
​Mom, We Have to Talk: 5 Ways to Discuss Downsizing with your Aging Parents
with free Discussion Cheat Sheet
Assess the Mess: How to Plan Out Downsizing a Home
includes free Room-by-Room Checklist