"I've heard (multiple times) that when Mom & Dad leave their Winnipesaukee house (with the best of intent), to their children, it inevitably is liquidated & proceeds divided because of conflicts between siblings and/or their spouses."
There is a fairly simple mechanism to minimize the potential for this: before death, the owner should set up a trust, and put ownership of the property into the trust.
Heck, if you're flush, add some cash into it, too, to be used for property taxes and expenses for awhile.
This will minimize sibling rivalry...at least in theory.
Of course, if not all the kids use the lakefront property, there will always be some disaffected soul who prioritizes greed over family unity.
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