In need of a firearms appraiser and other estate stuff.

[2ndovc]

Guys,
My dad isn't doing well. He picked up a respiratory infection/ illness a couple of years ago and just hasn't recovered.
It has, in fact gotten worse. He's now on Oxygen 24 hrs a day and one of his Docs. has recommended home hospice.
He has refused for now, but he knows it's coming eventually.
He has his estate well planned with his attorneys for my sister, his second wife and I about who gets what and how all the real estate is to he handeled.
The problem is going to be with my sister. She always acts like she is owed more than everyone else, though she hasn't acted as if she is part of the family for decades.
My dad saw all her behavior when my mom died and left me in charge, knowing what a problem she can be.

I will inherit my dad's sizable collection and has already put a value on it so will also receive a few of the rental properties.
What his concern is how my sister will react without a professional opinion. I talked to a fellow member of the Ohio Gun Collector's Assoc. this weekend at the show
that specializes in vintage military and a guy we've known for years, along with his father. There is very little that he doesn't know about military arms.
He charges $1500/ day to do his thing, but I'm concerned it will take two to three days for the size and rarities that my dad has. Dad's thinking is that
we should probably have two opinions to prevent any arguments from the Evil Demon, I mean my sister.
If any of you know of someone that does firearms appraisals, please let me know.

This whole thing sucks, but I know it's inevitable.

Jason

[GunnyMack]

Sorry to hear this Jason, I'm no help but I also have a sister like that...

[.45colt]

Sorry about Your Dad Jason. You could try giving Jaquas in Findlay a call . I was at the new store last August . They have everything from low end to some of the most expensive guns I have ever seen. hundreds of them. They will surly know who can do an appraisal. Good Luck Pard.

[4t5]

Maybe try these guys… https://www.rockislandauction.com/
Assuming you’re selling them.

[2ndovc]

Sorry about Your Dad Jason. You could try giving Jaquas in Findlay a call . I was at the new store last August . They have everything from low end to some of the most expensive guns I have ever seen. hundreds of them. They will surly know who can do an appraisal. Good Luck Pard.

That is a very good idea. they do have some pretty amazing stuff.

Will, thanks for the support! I remember when I was a kid that I would tell my parents how awful she was, but the never believed me until they
had to deal with her as an adult. Even though she's younger than I am by three years she'll still act like she should be in charge.
jb

[2ndovc]

Maybe try these guys… https://www.rockislandauction.com/
Assuming you’re selling them.

Not a chance I'd part with that stuff. We put in too much time building our collections.
Mine is just a smaller version, dad always had more spending money than i did, bit it's supposed to be that way.
He does have a grouping of WWI commemorative Colts that I'm not a big fan of, but that's about they only thing I would part with.
Appreciate the suggestion though.

jb

[marlinman93]

If your Dad already put a value on his collection I'm not sure why it would be necessary to get a second or third evaluation? If you really feel it is needed, then why not just use the services of the Bluebook of Gun Values to show that the prices you already have are indeed correct? I believe the Bluebook has gone to online service only, so you'll pay a fee for using it, but much less than what an appraiser charges.
I've done appraisals for many years, and never charged near what you were quoted. I charge $100 an hour, so about half of what you were told. On occasion if the collection is full of arms I'm unfamiliar with I bring in another friend, but he charges the same, and I don't charge any time when I have him charge his time.
I'm too far away to do you any good, and I only do this locally as travel expenses make the cost too high.

[OldWin]

While I can't recommend anyone to help you, I can certainly say how sorry I am to hear about your dad. Glad to hear he left his collection in good hands.

[jeepnik]

There comes a time for hospice. But insurance companies/doctors often start pushing it way too early. Why? Because once you are on hospice about all they do is manage pain. They aren't interested in using medications and treatments to improve the quality of life. Why? Hospice is cheaper.

[FLINT]

Very sorry to hear about your dad. That is very hard.

one thing I've done before is search SOLD auctions on gunbroker. That works if you can find the same guns as you have and in similar condition. It might not be as official as getting an appraisor but it will tell you the real current selling value.

Why is it always the family members who are the least involved who expect the most. I guess that's what entitlement means. Sorry you have to deal with that. I hope it doesn't get too ugly.

[2ndovc]

If your Dad already put a value on his collection I'm not sure why it would be necessary to get a second or third evaluation? If you really feel it is needed, then why not just use the services of the Bluebook of Gun Values to show that the prices you already have are indeed correct? I believe the Bluebook has gone to online service only, so you'll pay a fee for using it, but much less than what an appraiser charges.
I've done appraisals for many years, and never charged near what you were quoted. I charge $100 an hour, so about half of what you were told. On occasion if the collection is full of arms I'm unfamiliar with I bring in another friend, but he charges the same, and I don't charge any time when I have him charge his time.
I'm too far away to do you any good, and I only do this locally as travel expenses make the cost too high.

I appreciate the suggestion, but that simply isn't going to work. These will have to be third party legal documents that will be difficult disprove. It's not about the cost as much as stacking the deck in favor for making her think twice about fighting for more than she is due.
I may have misspoken as well. The value he has put on the collection is for me to know how he will be splitting things up. He wants to be fair and his concern
is not me or my stepmother, it's strictly because of my sister and her dishonesty. Somehow she found out that my mom had a safe deposit box of considerable value that she
never told me about. She let that slip in a conversation with my dad while she was all boozed up. Again. She's also tens of thousands deep into what she's borrowed from my dad and has not made a single effort into paying him back. She doesn't know that i have been told about that and it will be taken into account.
I trust my stepmother more than most people I know and she doesn't care for my sister either.


jb

[Ray Newman]

My thoughts --You never stated if your dad has a will or trust and who is executor. If the estate requires probate court, believe the court will require an estate appraisal. Did your father put anything in writing?

Discuss this with your father's attorney for advice as how to determine the value of your father's estate and/or what you need to do to protect your interest. I do believe it will be difficult to prove/show that an outside appraiser is wrong.

You posted: "These will have to be third party legal documents that will be difficult disprove. It's not about the cost as much as stacking the deck in favor for making her think twice about fighting for more than she is due." Can she afford an attorney?

Concerning the money she received from your father, is there any documentation showing it was a loan/borrowed? She just might claim it was a gift.

Wish you the best. I know of a few who were in the same boat and it was a difficult and time consuming process and legal advice/help was needed.

[2ndovc]

Thanks Ray,

Yes everything is in a trust and pretty iron clad. I do believe there is documentation on the loans made to my sister, but will make sure.
great point!


jb

[marlinman93]

Not sure how or why a Blue Book of Gun Values isn't acceptable? Every gun dealer I've ever known has used it for many decades to determine how much a gun is worth before buying it from a customer. If it's acceptable for professionals who make their living this way, it should stand as a reliable reference for any legal purposes.

[2ndovc]

I quit buying the Blue book years ago do to errors and lack of coverage on specific rarities. Specifically military markings.
A simple set of letters or property mark can make an average firearm into a very rare and valuable piece. Or a fake when so marked outside of the proper Serial Number range.
It would also be far too easy to argue the values pulled from a website by me or one of our attorneys that wouldn't have a clue what they are looking at.

Jason

[Malamute]

Couple points.

Be absolutely positive EVERYTHING he says he wants is down on paper regardless of how many people heard him say it verbally.

As far as I know, theres no requirement that what he chooses for his estate distribution has to be fair to anyone, or be distributed equally, its by his choice.

Ive heard of will clauses that stated if anyone in the will contested any part of it they forfeit all claims, they get nothing. Check legality in his area.

[Rockrat]

Grandad had in his will, that if anyone contested the will, all they would get would be $25. Cut down on SOME of the bickering. If you go this route, check with the lawyer that it is legal in your state. Check with the lawyer and ask them if you are the trustee, that you can do whatever you want with whats in the trust (assuming thats what the trust says) no matter what another considers "fair or not".

[2ndovc]

He does have a clause similar to that. I don't know the exact details, but will ask.

Jason

[horsesoldier03]

Definitely not an expert on this, but if the gun collection is not specifically mentioned in the trust, it could potentially end up in probate. When it goes to probate the judge will order everything to be sold and split evenly. I had a family member in a very similar situation. As the executor, I would expect that you could have to collection valued at the expense of the estate.

[2ndovc]

The firearms have been listed as an asset as well as his militaria collection. My stepmother has asked for the vintage uniforms and medals. That collection is quite valuable as well. She would like to have it for a couple of reasons. She is quite an artist and loves the work and detail of the medals and she was with him when he found a lot of these things. I've already been given the few things that I wanted from this part of the collection. A Finn WWII medal, a WWI Iron Cross and a WWII German Afrika Korps helmet that my mom bought at a yard sale for $20 probably thirty years ago.

Jason

[Ray Newman]

Smart move that your father has a trust.

Now are you the executor? In your initial post you said you your father "left me in charge." Sounds like you are, arrange a meeting with the lawyer who drafted the trust to go over it with you and answer your concerns/questions. Some of your concerns might very well be alleviated by the terms of the trust. Better to spend a bit of time (and possibly money) up front to alleviate your concerns and determine what you must do.

If you are not executor, he/she may have concerns about discussing the terms of the trust with you.

Rockrat's 6/23 post is onto it in many ways.

[2ndovc]

Sorry about Your Dad Jason. You could try giving Jaquas in Findlay a call . I was at the new store last August . They have everything from low end to some of the most expensive guns I have ever seen. hundreds of them. They will surly know who can do an appraisal. Good Luck Pard.

That was a big fat Nope from Jaquay's. They were very polite, but they only do modern firearms.


That was a great suggestion though. Much appreciated!

Jason

[2ndovc]

Smart move that your father has a trust.

Now are you the executor? In your initial post you said you your father "left me in charge." Sounds like you are, arrange a meeting with the lawyer who drafted the trust to go over it with you and answer your concerns/questions. Some of your concerns might very well be alleviated by the terms of the trust. Better to spend a bit of time (and possibly money) up front to alleviate your concerns and determine what you must do.

If you are not executor, he/she may have concerns about discussing the terms of the trust with you.

Rockrat's 6/23 post is onto it in many ways.

No I am not. That part of the discussion was about my mother's estate, my sister the reason for all the paperwork and attorneys.
The executor is my cousin, the Judge. My step mother is the backup and i trust them both.

My sister has very little money to hire an attorney or mount any kind of legal challenge (my opinion), but she is vicious enough to make everyone miserable.
she would hope but all of us know better than to engage with her over anything.

[marlinman93]

Have you talked to your father about the possibility of dispersing his firearms while he's still able to be part of this? That would fix any issues of the estate battles with your sister later.

[Ysabel Kid]

Hi Jason - I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. Can't help you on the appraisal, but it does sound like you are anticipating your sisters' actions. Her name isn't Karen by any chance?