Chapter 14 - I Finally Put in Writing What Susan and I Should Have Written Years Earlier
After the title was cleared, Ellen asked:
“What do you want to do with the cabin?”
I almost answered:
keep it.
Then realized that was not the real question.
She meant:
legally.
Emotionally.
Estate-wise.
So I thought.
Susan wanted Emily to have:
the cabin.
I wanted that too.
Still.
But I no longer wanted inheritance to function as:
present ownership.
We created a revocable trust.
The cabin remained under:
my control during my lifetime.
I paid:
taxes,
insurance,
major maintenance.
Emily had:
permission to use it under written terms.
Not because I wanted to treat my daughter like:
Airbnb guest.
Because clarity protects relationships.
The trust specified:
if I still owned the cabin at death, it would pass to Emily.
If she predeceased me, then according to the alternate beneficiaries I chose.
No spouse obtained automatic present rights merely by marrying:
her.
No one could:
mortgage,
pledge,
transfer,
borrow against
the cabin without lawful authority.
I gave Emily a copy.
She read:
every page.
Good.
Then asked:
“Can I still use it this summer?”
“Yes.”
“Can I repaint the downstairs bedroom?”
“What color?”
She smiled.
“Blue.”
“No.”
“Dad.”
“Written trust says nothing about ugly paint.”
She laughed.
First easy laugh between us in:
May you like
months.
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