Do Not Fight Over Family Heirlooms: How We Divided Stuff Without a Feud

All opinions are always 100% honest and my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also participate in: CJ Affiliate; eBay Partner Network; Rakuten Affiliate Network; ShareASale; Walmart Affiliate Program; independent affiliate networks.

When my dad passed away, my siblings and I divided his belongings smoothly. Simple. Respectful. Drama-free.

My husband’s experience was different. His parents left no wills. One sibling took advantage of the situation, and it caused some resentment. Our choice? Let it go. We reminded ourselves: it was never ours to begin with. That mindset brought peace—but it also showed us how lack of planning creates stress.

The Question

In my last video, I shared a four-step process for clearing out my dad’s home. Step two was dividing sentimental belongings. A viewer asked:

You made the second step sound easy about dividing up sentimental items between siblings. How did you do that without a family feud?

The Sticker System

• Each sibling got a sheet of colored stickers
• We tagged items that mattered to us
• One sticker = yours
• Multiple stickers = “sort pile”
• We took turns choosing until everything was gone

Negotiation helped. I gave up a lot to keep the three items I cared about most. The process took less than two hours—and ended with smiles, not fights.

Two Conditions

This only works if:

1. Your siblings—and you—are reasonable.
2. Major assets (house, cash, retirement) are already divided.

In our case, my parents had done this. They also set aside one meaningful heirloom for each of us long before they passed. No confusion. No battles.

Bottom Line

Stuff matters. But people matter more. With a simple system and a little planning, families can stay at peace—even in hard times.

Would this system work in your family, or would it explode? Leave your thoughts below!