The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly [Paperback]

Angie Epting Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

Dividing an estate fairly may sound easy, but in fact very few people know how to do it. Because of this, an event that should be dedicated to remembering the good times and paying honor to the deceased often becomes a time of strife and divisiveness, resulting in bad feelings that can sometimes last a lifetime. Now, there is a resource that helps to avoid such conflicts. The Settlement Guide provides clear, useful advice about how to divide the family estate of the deceased parents in a fair and peaceful manner.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

As Benjamin Franklin once observed, nothing is certain--except death and taxes. The inevitability of death may hardly be a pleasant subject to contemplate--especially the death of a parent or other loved one--but by the same token, one always needs to prepare for the inevitable, because it's a lack of preparation that often causes the worst problems. But how do you prepare for something you've never had to deal with before? Often the best thing to do in such cases is to get advice from someone with personal experience. In the best of all worlds, this advice would come from someone who not only had dealt with the situation before but who had also thought it through systematically and whose ideas had been tested successfully by others. That's just the kind of advice Angie Epting Morris provides in her compact, enlightening new book, The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly.

Morris's is the kind of obviously useful book that will make you wonder why no one had thought to write it before. It deals, in a practical and straightforward manner, with all the major issues one is likely to confront in dividing an estate, including what to do about unredeemed life insurance policies and other loose ends associated with the deceased. The main problem the book addresses, however, is how to divide an estate equitably. That may sound easy, but in fact very few people know how to do it. Because of this, an event that should be dedicated to remembering good times and paying honor to the deceased often becomes a time of strife and divisiveness, resulting in bad feelings that can sometimes last a lifetime.

Angie Epting Morris and her siblings--inspired by the advice of their father, who as an attorney had dealt with many settlements--developed a straightforward and fair method for dividing their parents' estate that has come to be known as "The Settlement Game." Morris shared her ideas informally with many people over the years and was eventually prevailed upon to set those ideas down in writing. Now, The Settlement Game is available for everyone and has the potential not only to avert headaches and heartbreaks but also to turn one of life's most trying moments into a celebration of strong relationships and "all our yesterdays."

One strength of The Settlement Game is its use of specific examples, particularly to illustrate how even the best intentions can have negative unforeseen consequences. By following the simple "rules of the game" one can easily avoid such problems. Morris also addresses how conflicts arise among those with very different personality styles. Guided by the work of noted psychologist Dr. Robert Rohm, Morris analyzes four different basic personality types so that readers can assess the people they are dealing with and take appropriate steps to avoid unnecessary conflict. Morris highlights this crucial issue: "Over the years I have often been asked what I believe causes conflicts more than anything else. I am now convinced that personality differences are the primary cause of conflict during an estate settlement. Without understanding these differences, the process of keeping the peace and avoiding conflict will be much more difficult."

In an appendix, Morris provides templates of forms that will be very useful for "playing the game" properly. These include an appraisal sheet, an interest list, a distribution sheet, a tally sheet, and a household account and bill record. Readers can photocopy the sheets directly from the book. The Settlement Game is truly a practical and an invaluable resource for those who are dealing with one of life's most difficult yet inevitable moments.

About the Author

Angie Epting Morris graduated from the University of Georgia in 1968 with a BS degree in geography and majored in cartography. This led to employment as a professional cartographer for the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., in 1969. After marrying in 1972, she made her home in Evans, Georgia, outside of Augusta, and raised two sons. Angie taught high school English and geography for three years before opening a retail travel agency in Augusta. She also eventually opened a state accredited travel school to train travel industry personnel, which she operated simultaneously with the agency. These experiences added to her qualification as a teacher. She has become recognized as an expert on how to settle an estate peacefully and fairly.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Voyages Press, Inc. (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976993422
• ISBN-13: 978-0976993421
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Focusing on Peaceful Estate Settlement, February 22, 2006

By 

D. Gehr (Fort Loudon, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly (Paperback)

After mother's death, my brother and sisters looked to me to begin the estate
settlement process. The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly has been like a life line to a drowning victim. Anyone can settle an estate, but to do so peacefully and fairly, is another matter. After reading the introduction, I
purchased copies for myself and my siblings. Our home is like returning to another era with beautiful antique furniture, dishes, and many of our old toys. This book outlines a system for distributing these items fairly and peacefully. I particularly liked the spiritual side that the author weaved into the beginning of the book. I
would recommend this book to anyone who is faced with settling an estate and
wants to make sure the process is done fairly and that family relationships remain
unharmed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas -- Quick Read -- A bit lite on follow through, November 18, 2008

By 

Ranleigh Hirsh "zhirsr" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly (Paperback)

I am in the middle of trying to settle a modest estate with lots of valuable stuff, house, cars and seven siblings from two marriages. The author does a good job of approaching the subject but doesn't follow through on some items in depth such has how to apply personality types. I found her idea's were very helpful in guiding my plans. You can tell there is considerable reverence for her parents. This would be a great book to give to beneficiaries prior to the division of items to help communicate the process. Not enough depth for executors.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A practical, "user friendly", and informative guide to arranging a fair division of a departed loved one's estate, March 11, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly (Paperback)

Confidently recommended reading, The Settlement Game: How To Settle An Estate Peacefully And Fairly by Angie Epting Morris is a practical, "user friendly", and informative guide to arranging a fair division of a departed loved one's estate. Readers will be provided with a proven system for dividing all items in an estate in a fair, peaceful manner; an analysis of personality styles that can help you avoid conflict; useful, practical advice for dealing with all details of an estate, from bank accounts to taxes; handy forms you can photocopy to keep track of all items and miscellaneous expenses.