After two years, the contest over a book collection has come to a close.
Estate battles are never fun.
Emotions and stakes are high.
And when the fight over an estate is long, you just want it to be over.
According to The New York Times article titled "Maurice Sendak’s Estate Is Awarded Most of a Book Collection,” another such estate battle is finally closed.
The estate of author Maurice Sendak won its contest against the Rosenback Museum and Library in Philadelphia.
Before his death, Sendak loaned much of his collection to Rosenbach.
Because those artifacts had been there for decades, many believed the arrangement would continue.
Instead, his estate plan gave most of the collection to the Maurice Sendak Foundation and removed the works in 2014 to create a similar museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut under the direction of his foundation.
This action led the Rosenbach to sue, saying some of the books taken were ones pledged by Sendak to the Rosenbach in his will.
The museum gave a specific list of books—including some by Beatrix Potter—it claimed to fit the terms of the will as belonging to them, accusing the estate executors of wanting the books to pay their own fees.
The results?
Earlier this year, the court determined the Beatrix Potter books belonged to the museum.
Since then, however, the rest of the contest favored the estate.
Eighty-eight books were awarded to the museum and 252 were awarded to the estate.
In the future, these books will be available for viewing at the Ridgefield museum.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: The New York Times (November 1, 2016) “Maurice Sendak’s Estate Is Awarded Most of a Book Collection”
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