Here's a great idea I'm passing on; it was posted on another Rootsweb list. Upon reading this, I immediately realized that I have many items that I need to list, including family heirlooms and photographs, and design/maintenance of a genealogy Web site, too. Edit the language suggested below to fit your personal situation, i.e., if you already know to whom [relative or organization] you want to leave specific items in your genealogy collection, list those items in your will with specific directions, etc. I would also suggest that you leave a note in each file/book/photo album/notebook in your collection stating to whom it should go after your demise. It takes some thinking to decide all these things, particularly if you are like me and are the last of your line; but such prior planning ensures that all your treasured family photos don't wind up going to strangers in an estate/garage sale and your materials painstakingly collected over years of research efforts don't get tossed in the dumpster by uninterested heirs or estate administrators. Diane Carrington Bradford ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genealogical Codicil to My Last Will and Testament To my spouse, children, guardian, administrator and/or executor: Upon my demise it is requested that you DO NOT dispose of any or all of my genealogical records, both those prepared personally by me and those records prepared by others which may be in my possession, including but not limited to books, files, notebooks or computer programs for a period of two years. During this time period, please attempt to identify one or more persons who would be willing to take custody of the said materials and the responsibility of maintaining and continuing the family histories. [If you know whom within your family or friends are likely candidates to accept these materials, please add the following at this point: "I suggest that the persons contacted regarding the assumption of the custody of these items include but not be limited to" and then list the names of those individuals at this point, with their addresses and telephone numbers if known] In the event you do no find anyone to accept these materials, please contact the various genealogical organizations that I have been a member of and determine if they will accept some parts or all of my genealogical materials. [List of organizations, addresses and phone numbers at bottom; include local chapters, with their addresses, phone numbers and contact persons if available as well as state/national contact information and addresses] Please remember that my genealogical endeavors consumed a great deal of time, travel, and money. Therefore it is my desire that the products of these endeavors be allowed to continue in a manner that will make them available to others in the future. Signature ___________________________ Date ___________ Witness ____________________________ Date ___________ Witness ____________________________ Date ___________