Death is one of those things most never plan, nor expect, yes?

David Bowie produced a final album in anticipation of his. But he was David Bowie.

For the rest of us, it's good to have plans drawn up just in case. Estate matters are such a pain.

Agreed, these are the times that I'm glad that I keep up with my life insurance.

good advice...

Vix

I am so, SO glad that my life-mate created a Living Trust before he passed away. It has made things so much smoother. Can't recommend it enough.

Also, I looked at the link. I was expecting some sort of fire sale post. Is it for select people only to receive them as gifts?

I am already thinking of that, actually. I am going to leave instructions with my surviving family on the disposal of my physical art collection and stories, and even for the future disposition of some of my original characters. Details are purposefully left vague here, naturally. But yes, if you value the things you've created, make plans for what will happen to them after you're gone.

I’ve contacted his sister and offered my condolences and some advice about handling Taral’s estate. Taral give me the impression he’d made a will of some kind, but I see he never bothered to. In some ways he seemed to be indifferent about the fate of his estate. He’d tell me he’d be dead and gone, so what did he care about what happened to all his stuff? He’d chuckle about his artwork ending up in a landfill, and he was teasing me, but just the same it didn’t make me comfortable. I want to see his creative life preserved and archived, but that’ll be up to his sister and his friends. There’s nothing that I really can do about it, and that’s the frustrating thing. Well, we’ll see what happens. I hope at least his friends throw a good old fashion wake for him.

And whack fol th' darn
O dance to yer partner
Whirl th' floor
yer trotters shake
Wasn’t it th’ truth I told ya?
Lots of fun at Finnegan’s wake!

Thanks for what you did, Schirm. I need to get together with you and come up with a panel about this very topic.

It couldn’t hurt, but wills are a sore point for me. Family tried to dictate the content of my will, and we had some nasty fights over it. And I’ve seen wills used strike back and punish people. If we do have a panel on the subject, I’ll emphasize telling heirs to mind their own business about your will and to avoid the temptation to weaponize it.

I've already been talking with Dronon who's also been looking into this... Dronon's a librarian as well as one of the old guard fans around here. Sadly Taral and I were never all that close, and I don't have a vehicle to help out.

I don't know Dronon, but I'm interested in what they're considering. If you're comfortable with the idea, could you ask them to send me a note here on FA?

Thank you.

I can ask; at this point things are mostly still at the 'move everything someplace safe first so they can be checked and collated before anybody starts going through the apartment' stage. with no hard decisions on eventual destination yet. Needless to day there are a number of folks here in Toronto who knew Taral, and getting things co-ordinated is going to be a mess.

(Not to mention there are a couple of folks who knew Taral that I'm glad don't live in Toronto anymore.)

Handled three such collections. It was a time consuming chore. There are several furdom library/ collections that will take adult work for preservation as well.

Valid points, there. I have considered sending copies of my creative work to certain friends of mine, should anything happen to me.

I've contacted his sister. There are libraries who are colleting fanzines

I'm sure UCRiverside, which had Fred Patten's collection, would be interested. And some of his stuff, such as the early issues of Rowrbrazzle, would be worth quite a lot auctioned off. Unfortunately, most of the original art probably will end up in a landfill. Of all the furry artists who have died, not a single one has had any sort of collection or tribute book of their work published.

yes, there's some projects that need to be done

What would be really cool is some sort of anthology or omnibus featuring the art of a bunch of the deceased furry artists. However, wrangling permission from the various families would be a nightmare, and maybe impossible.

I guess it could be done! I'm in touch with Shon howell's sister, and I think Wolf Smith can contact Shep's next of kin (and Beiros)

Sadly, this would be a pretty big anthology. Greg Bear, McMoo, Mark Wallace, Deal Whitley, Lou Scarborough, Tom Linehan, John Spiedel, Vicky Wyman, Ruggels, Josh Quagmire, Bob Hill, JP Morgan and some I'm sure I've forgotten.

Good points. I've contacted his sister, offering any help I can.

I hope you had plans in place, yourself, Grey.
You'll be missed.