Another study has been released showing that America's seniors are woefully unprepared to have their estates pass in an orderly manner to their heirs, with disposition of the home being cited as a key point of family friction.

The AARP report -- echoed by the Senior Advantage Real Estate Marketing Council -- found that advanced seniors (in the 75+ age range) often simply refuse to discuss how they want their estates dealt with.

"The first problem is that most people just don't want to discuss their own mortality," says Tim Corliss of the Senior Advantage Council. "And the second thing is, they don't want to address 'what to do with the house' because it will become an internal political problem with the children.

"So much of estate planning depends on that relationship -- between the adult and the children. Many seniors in the 60 to 75 age range do not have the best of relationships with their kids. People 75 and older tend to be very private. They don't want to discuss what's going to happen to the house. They don't even tell their kids where the key to the safety deposit box is."

Lin Coughlin, head of the AARP Investment Program, said, "The survey results underscore that lack of knowledge and preparation, combined with the fact that money and death remain taboo conversation topics, can lead to sibling squabbles, unnecessary legal expenses, unpleasant surprises and missed opportunities. "As the population grays, we believe legacy planning and greater communication among family members will become imperative and emerge as real solutions."

According To The Survey:

Overall, one in five Americans over the age of 50 says an inheritance, or lack of one, has created tensions or hard feelings between family members.

Of those who reported family tension, 74 percent said disagreements had to do with resolving what to do with the family home or other real estate; 69 percent said disagreements were about money, 47 percent said they were about jewelry, and 11 percent had to do with investments.

The study showed that of families that said there had been no conflicts over inheritance, 82 percent cited fairness of allocations as a factor; 63 percent said conflicts were avoided because of adequate financial and tax planning and another 63% say conflicts were avoided because family members knew in advance what to expect.

While most older Americans say they plan or expect to discuss their estates in the families, very few have actually done it.

According to the survey, three quarters of Americans over 50 intend to leave money to heirs; 75 percent said they plan to pass down a family home or real estate, and 63 percent plan to leave financial investments they own.

However, 77 percent conceded they had not discussed money with heirs, and nearly half (49 percent) said they hadn't broached the subject of what will happen to their homes.

Corliss warned that although good real estate professionals could help seniors, don't expect a warm welcome.

"Real estates do not have the best of images (among seniors)," he said. He also said brokers hoping to work in the senior market would be well advised to also worth with accountants and lawyers since seniors rarely have one-size-fits-all problems.

The Senior Advantage Council, whose 1,500 members are taught how to work through estate problems, may be reached at: 800 500-4564.

Also See:

Published: July 22, 1999

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.