Passing It On : The Inheritance and Use of Summer Houses

A family summer house can be the repository of generations of family experiences. It simultaneously can be the source of great family discord as new generations increase family size & diversity. Judith Huggins Balfe, a professional sociologist & summer house heir, has interviewed 125 families who share time & ownership at family summer homes in 18 states & Canada. Her book is a professional assessment of the various factors that determine the parameters of summer house inheritance, & their consequences for both families & individuals. These include differences of social class or status, & issues of authority over the summer house & the legacy it preserves. In separate chapters, Balfe describes several family roles & organizing structures. She also explains a variety of formal, legal arrangements, suggests mediation principles, & presents some tested methods of fair division of time at the summer house. Using scores of interview excerpts, she illustrates the difficulties & solutions multi-generational families have had with family summer houses. Each situation is unique, but how relatives perceive legacy, stewardship & family commitment will determine how successful is the passing on of summer houses.Judith Huggins Balfe is the author of 'Passing It On : The Inheritance and Use of Summer Houses', published 1999 under ISBN 9781570874864 and ISBN 1570874867.