Estate planning

[SuncrestReef]

Sorry for bringing up a morbid subject, but recent events have forced this into my thought process. Last week my wife's mother passed away, and we are now sorting through her estate to figure everything out. As a result, we decided for the first time to consult an estate planner so when we eventually pass, our loved ones aren't faced with a complex jigsaw puzzle of finding and sifting through our assets and finalizing our affairs.

Have any of you ever considered what you would wish to do with your aquarium after your death? It's not something you can just bequeath to a loved one and assume they will care for it and cherish it the way you do. Aside from the financial investment in your aquarium, there is the ethical consideration of ensuring the delicate life forms in your tank are cared for in your absence. Is there someone in your immediate family that would want your tank and would care for your reef inhabitants?

So this leaves me with a dilemma. Nobody in my immediate family lives within 2000 of my home, and even my wife probably would not want the responsibility of caring for an SPS-dominant reef aquarium and all the automated aquarium technology I have set up. I'm starting to think it would make sense to identify one or more beneficiaries in my local aquarium club to be designated caretakers for my tank.

Again, sorry for bringing up something that's not pleasant to think about or talk about. But it's an inevitability. Have any of you ever thought about this?

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I don’t have anything official but a friend and I both have agreed that if anything were to happen to either of us all our reef related items would go to the other. Our significant others know about the agreement because neither of them are interested in keeping it. Just a verbal pact so to speak, nothing in writing.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Aquarium estate planning sounds like entrapment to find out what those frags actually cost:

 

[Small triggers]

Having had a similar event happen, my husband and I have been starting our wills and atleast our immediate families know our wishes. With that said, as far as pets I will have a listing of who to call to see what they want/can take, add equipment left to the pile of estate sale items.

 

[BayouReefer]

I have not discussed it but my son is the one that talked me into starting this hobby. He is big into this hobby and does tank maintenance for about 15 people as a side job. And the way I have been spending money on my Reef tank it may be his only inheritance lol!

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

"Free Fish and Frags at the Viewing" posted on all local reef club forums and Facebook groups!

 

[flsalty]

When I die I'll be dead so it won't matter to me.

 

[SuncrestReef]

When I die I'll be dead so it won't matter to me.

Wow, so you honestly don't care about the fish and corals in your tank surviving? I hope you're just joking.

 

[flsalty]

Wow, so you honestly don't care about the fish and corals in your tank surviving? I hope you're just joking.

It's the realist in me. We have no control over what happens to our stuff after we die. Not worrying about things I can't control is a philosophy that has served me well. That doesn't mean I don't care about my stuff in the here and now.

 

[Scorpius]

It's the realist in me. We have no control over what happens to our stuff after we die. Not worrying about things I can't control is a philosophy that has served me well. That doesn't mean I don't care about my stuff in the here and now.

We really have little to no control over our lives when you actually stop and think about it.

 

[Jay Z]

Actually this is really funny you brought this up, the subject, not the situation.

I just took a week off work to relax the mind some. While on my short break I went around the house thinking the same thing. I started categorizing all my random stuff with short descriptions and prices to ask for them. Getting prepped.

My aquarium situation is such a built in nightmare, pretty much part of the house. That was one thing I couldn't wrap my head around. So if I go slow, I'm going to give everything away. If quick, someone in for a shock, lol.

 

[Huskymaniac]

I told my wife she should donate all livestock to one of the national aquariums. Dry goods she can take to the curb.

 

[Snoopy 67]

I used to work for someone in tank maintenance.
I was thinking of setting something up where he would move the tank to the garage for the livestock & whatever else he deemed necessary. Then it could be sold in time along with whatever is left.
OR they could just give him everything for a fee or not.

 

[ingchr1]

Something I thought about, consideration should also be given to identify any hazards that may be associated with your aquarium. Chemicals, toxic and poisonous animals, etc.

Let's say your tank also dies, then your loved ones go and pull the tank apart. They could unknowingly expose themselves to some potentially serious toxins. Probably wouldn't even cross their mind how toxic some corals can be.

 

[Billdogg]

I told my wife that the easiest way to do it would be to call the LFS, tell them to come get it, and call it a day. They've helped me enough over the years that giving a little back to them just seems the right thing to do.