Saving the Family Cottage
We Love our Second Homes, but Will our Children?
Should we Preserve the Legacy? How?
Second homes are often the most valuable asset in one’s estate and require specialized planning to ensure the home stays in the family. Leaving your valuable family home in equal shares to heirs without a master plan often leads to issues and family conflict.
Saving the Family Cottage was written as a practical guide to help you preserve your beloved vacation home for future generations. Whether it’s a lakeside cabin, beach house, or mountain retreat, this book offers essential tools to help you pass down your cherished property smoothly and sustainably.
Saving the Family Cottage
In this book, you’ll learn how to:
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Establish clear rules for shared use and decision-making to prevent conflict
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Design an ownership structure that supports long-term continuity
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Create a flexible plan that empowers future generations to make informed choices about the property’s future
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Explore options like endowments or nonprofit ownership to support maintenance and legacy goals
Whether you’re just beginning the conversation or ready to put a plan in place, Saving the Family Cottage offers expert insight to help keep your family retreat in the family.
About the Author
Tim Borchers, Esq., CTFA, EPLS, AEP®, MCIT
Tim Borchers is an estate planning attorney and founding partner of Borchers Trust Law. A recognized innovator in the field, Tim has developed a suite of trademarked programs that make estate planning and administration more accessible and effective, including Inheritance Trusts™, TrustSupport™, and the Heirloom Ownership Trust™.
Media. Tim contributes regularly to consumer publications, such as Bottom Line Personal, and is a frequent speaker and educator. Tim has delivered presentations on passing down heirloom properties for the New York State Bar Association, WealthCounsel, the Boston Podcast Network, and others.
Legal career. Over the past three decades, Tim has built a team-centered practice known for its thoughtful collaboration with financial and legal professionals. In addition to his law practice, he co-founded Northeast Private Trustees, a firm providing independent trustee and fiduciary services.
Credentials. Tim earned his B.A. from Bowdoin College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School, and is a Level III graduate of Cannon Trust School. He is licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He holds the designations of Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS Board), Accredited Estate Planner® (NAEPC), Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (ABA), Master Certified Trustee (ITA), Boston’s Best (Boston Magazine), and Super Lawyer®.
Have a question about preserving your own heirloom property? Submit your question so Tim can address it.
Download Free Resources for Heirloom Properties
Second Home Planning Checklist
This checklist identifies all of the considerations to make sure your heirloom or vacation home avoids conflicts over the ownership, management, or disposition of your property.
Coming to Agreement on a Shared Home
This article outlines what should be included in a well-written Heirloom Agreement.
Five Possible Vacation Home Solutions for Your Estate
This article identifies the 5 most successful heirloom property strategies for your home.
Heirloom Test
The Heirloom Test is an objective assessment to determine if you should sell your home or keep it in the family.
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Would You Like a Complimentary Consultation?
To start the conversation, schedule a complimentary consultation with a Managing Paralegal to discuss preserving your heirloom property.
