"Seven Years should go through the stuff and get rid of everything that could not possibly be sentimental. I've done a number of post-death cleanouts, and the vast majority of the stuff always goes to charity or the dump. Seven Years has waited a long time without seeing this solution because it is a pain in the butt. It will take many, many hours, but it is within their own power to reduce this problem to a more reasonable size."
"This might work! Part of me thinks that someone resistant to dealing with the stuff at all will also be resistant to making decisions about what to keep. And someone who has been so unreasonable may be unlikely to say, "I totally understand that you donated the old dented filing cabinets that had no sentimental value." But it is definitely worth a try if the letter writer is willing to dedicate the time and energy."
Begin by sorting through belongings and discarding or donating anything that could not possibly be sentimental. Create clear guidelines with siblings about which specific items each will keep, including obvious sentimental objects and heirlooms. Photograph items that are uncertain and share the images to avoid unnecessary shipping or storage. Offer to do the labor-intensive cleanout to prevent indefinite delay. Expect resistance from someone unwilling to part with items, but proceeding will reduce long-term burden and prevent the accumulation from becoming an unsolvable problem years later.
Read at Slate Magazine
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