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Is it possible to own something after you die?

Is it possible to retain ownership after death?

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Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

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I am curious what people think about this question.
 
It is possible to specify what you would like done with your property upon your death, yes.
 
I guess the reason I am asking is not that I am looking to clarify any specific issue, but I wanted to explore the philosophical implications of the idea.

I am having trouble with the idea that an object can be property if there is no more will to be exercised. I can agree with honoring last wishes out of the respect for the dead person though.
 
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Why does property become something other than property after someone dies? A house is still property, bank holdings, stocks, etc. still property. I don't know what it would become if it became something other than property.
 
Ikari said:
Why does property become something other than property after someone dies?
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I am not saying that it is not property. Its pretty obvious that those objects are still there. However, can they be owned by a dead person?

Ikari said:
A house is still property, bank holdings, stocks, etc. still property. I don't know what it would become if it became something other than property.
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I am not sure you are understanding the question.

Its not about the stuff.
 
megaprogman said:
I am curious what people think about this question.
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A trust can be set up where the deceased would still be able to exert some control from beyond the grave.
 
winston53660 said:
A trust can be set up where the deceased would still be able to exert some control from beyond the grave.
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Indeed. A trust is a legal entity, just like a person is.
 
There are plenty of ways to dictate what happens to your property. If nothing is specifically specified, then the government will take its share; but it can still get passed down through family lines.
 
megaprogman said:
I am curious what people think about this question.
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The property belongs to the estate of the dead person.
That estate is to be settled according to the laws of the state.
 
Goobieman said:
The property belongs to the estate of the dead person.
That estate is to be settled according to the laws of the state.
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I agree that there are certain legalities.
 
megaprogman said:
I agree that there are certain legalities.
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So, I guess to asnwer the question, the dead person does, in a way, still own the property.
 
Goobieman said:
So, I guess to asnwer the question, the dead person does, in a way, still own the property.
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Personally, that is the part I am trying to rationalize. In what way? As far as I can tell, they no longer have a will (not the document) to exercise.
 
megaprogman said:
Personally, that is the part I am trying to rationalize. In what way? As far as I can tell, they no longer have a will (not the document) to exercise.
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But they did have a will, and specified such through legal documentation. That's that. It's like any bit of property, if I sell you something but in the contract say that the property always has to be used for X (assuming X is a legal activity), that's that. Even after I'm no longer the property owner.
 
Ikari said:
But they did have a will, and specified such through legal documentation. That's that. It's like any bit of property, if I sell you something but in the contract say that the property always has to be used for X (assuming X is a legal activity), that's that. Even after I'm no longer the property owner.
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A will means that ownership is transferred at the point of death. Even before the will is read, the person or entity that was named as the recipient of the property becomes the rightful owner at the point that the previous owner dies.

The reading of the will is just letting people know what they have already gained ownership of.
 
megaprogman said:
Personally, that is the part I am trying to rationalize. In what way? As far as I can tell, they no longer have a will (not the document) to exercise.
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The real property, as well as the bank accounts, etc, are all in his name. That makes it legally his; absent some legal mechanism to that effect, no one can simply take the assets contained therein.
 
Goobieman said:
The real property, as well as the bank accounts, etc, are all in his name. That makes it legally his; absent some legal mechanism to that effect, no one can simply take the assets contained therein.
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I know all that, but I am speaking philosophically here, not legally.
 
megaprogman said:
I know all that, but I am speaking philosophically here, not legally.
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Oh.
Well heck!
Then the answer is no -- because it can be philosophically argued that no one ever owns anything!
:mrgreen:
 
Goobieman said:
Oh.
Well heck!
Then the answer is no -- because it can be philosophically argued that no one ever owns anything!
:mrgreen:
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Hehe, that's one of the problems with philosophy, you can arrive at any answer if you have the right premise.
 
megaprogman said:
I am curious what people think about this question.
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"All our knowledge mearly helps us to die a more painful death than animals who know nothing." Maeterlinck

"What is there to say, finally, except that pain is bad, and pleasure good, life all, dead nothing." Gore Vidal

ricksfolly
 
megaprogman said:
Hehe, that's one of the problems with philosophy, you can arrive at any answer if you have the right premise.
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Obviuosly a dead person cannot exercise any direct will or decision over the properties in question -- but that doesn't equate to an argument that he does not still legally own them.
 

Yes, through your estate that you leave behind, until it is dispersed per your wishes or court ruling.
 
I think you can retain intellectual property after you die. Like if you write a song or make a patent that material is yours for eternity. Your name and credit will go to you even after you die, but in your death you can't really chose what to do with it (like music companies publishing the music of dead artists to make money off their work).
 
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