These stories of precious heirlooms disappearing bring home a thought I have had for a long time....after my father died, the division of his household items became a point of real tension between some family members...and some do not talk to each other anymore because of it. Now I have ten children, and DO NOT want that to happen to them....so as the years go by, from time to time I ask who want what of my stuff...and that is put as an attachment in my will. As much as possible, Lord willing, I will gift said items to each before I pass on, but if not, who gets what is in a legal document, that if necessary, any child can have a probate court intervene should one of my children turn out to be less than honest. This may not solve all the issues that happen among children when a parent dies, but I hope to help them avoid some of it.