Asset Inventory Alert: Don't Drop the Ball on These Overlooked Estate Items

Asset Inventory Alert: Don't Drop the Ball on These Overlooked Estate Items

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi

October 10, 2025

It was a perfect Saturday in August.  Mild temps and clear skies.  My family piled into my SUV and headed north to Lambeau Field for a match-up between the Green Bay Packers and my son’s beloved Seattle Seahawks.  It was a pre-season game, explaining why we were able to affordably purchase four tickets to the game. 

The Packer franchise is legendary selling out every game, but also for having the longest wait list (reported as 140,000) for season tickets. Our trek to Green Bay and back provided several hours for family banter, bouncing around our favorite topics.  My comments touched on the place season tickets to the Packer Games can take in estate planning.  “Really, people can pick who inherits their tickets!!!”  my kids half asked, half expressed shock from the back seat. “Yes!  I have had several clients lucky enough to hold season tickets, and they all made plans for what happens to them at death.”  The answer is quite easy, all you need to do is Google it and you’ll get a link to the Packer’s web site with a form to complete a beneficiary form for season tickets.  My question to you reader, is what item might you own that should be included in your estate planning, but has been overlooked?

As an estate planning and probate attorney, I know that unique and valuable assets can be overlooked, leading to family tension and lost value.  For example:

• Valuable Collections and Hobbies: Whether it's a fine wine cellar, an extensive stamp or coin collection, rare comic books, or high-end equipment for a passion like a professional-grade telescope or expensive photography gear. These items often have significant monetary and sentimental value, and simply stating "all personal property" may not capture your specific wishes for who should inherit them.
• Digital Assets and Online Accounts: From cryptocurrency holdings to the monetized content on your blog or YouTube channel to frequent flyer miles—your digital life has real value. Leaving a complete list of digital assets and how to access them is essential for your Personal Representative to fulfill their fiduciary duty to handle your estate.
• Intellectual Property and Royalties: Do you receive royalties from a book you wrote, a patent you filed, or music you composed? These ongoing income streams need to be specifically directed. Without clear instructions, the rights and payments can become tied up in probate, delaying income for your beneficiaries.
• Expensive Tools, Machinery, or Specialty Vehicles: Think beyond the family car. If you own a classic car, a motorcycle, a specialized tractor, or a fully outfitted ham radio shack with costly machinery, a simple list of who gets which item can prevent disagreements among heirs who may all want the valuable equipment or help your Personal Representative recognize tools with value that can be liquidated and added to your estate. 

As you work on your estate plan, aim for the Hall of Fame in planning just like our beloved Green Bay Packers.  If you are fortunate enough to hold season tickets, make certain the tickets—and everything else you own—go exactly where you intend. Go Pack Go!

Remember that a blog is not legal advice.  It is meant to spark thought and reflection.  Seek counsel from a licensed attorney in your home state.  If you found this post helpful, consider sharing it on your favorite social media platform.  Be well, and thanks for reading!