Legal Definitions - TPPM

TPPM stands for Tangible Personal Property Memorandum.

A Tangible Personal Property Memorandum (TPPM) is a separate, written document referenced in a will that allows a person to specify who should receive particular items of their tangible personal property after they pass away. This document is typically used for items that have sentimental or specific value, rather than significant monetary value, and it provides a flexible way to distribute these items without needing to formally amend the will itself every time a change is desired. It must be signed by the person making the will and describe the items and the recipients with reasonable certainty.

• Example 1: Distributing Sentimental Heirlooms

  Maria has a will that leaves all her assets to her two children equally. However, she also possesses several cherished family heirlooms: her grandmother's antique rocking chair, a collection of vintage porcelain dolls, and a specific set of sterling silver cutlery. Instead of listing each of these items and their intended recipients directly in her will, which would require a formal amendment every time she changed her mind about who should receive a specific doll, Maria creates a Tangible Personal Property Memorandum. In this separate document, she clearly states that her daughter, Elena, should receive the rocking chair, her son, David, should get the sterling silver cutlery, and her niece, Sofia, should inherit the porcelain doll collection. Her will specifically references this memorandum, making it a valid instruction for her executor.

  This example illustrates a TPPM because Maria uses a separate, signed document to direct the distribution of specific, tangible personal items (rocking chair, cutlery, dolls) to particular individuals, without having to embed these detailed instructions directly into her main will.

• Example 2: Allocating Specific Collectibles

  John is an avid collector of rare stamps and has amassed a significant collection over many years. He has several close friends and family members who share his passion, and he wishes to leave specific, valuable stamps or albums to each of them. His will broadly states that his stamp collection should be sold, and the proceeds distributed. To override this general instruction for specific items and ensure certain pieces go to specific people, John drafts a Tangible Personal Property Memorandum. In it, he meticulously lists which specific stamp albums or individual rare stamps are to be given to which friend or family member. He signs and dates this memorandum, and his will contains a clause stating that any separate memorandum regarding tangible personal property should be followed.

  This demonstrates a TPPM because John uses it to provide detailed, item-specific instructions for his tangible personal property (the stamps) that might otherwise be handled generally by his will, allowing for precise distribution to named beneficiaries.

• Example 3: Changing Minds About Gifts Without Amending a Will

  Sarah has a will that was drafted five years ago. At that time, she intended for her antique grandfather clock to go to her nephew, Michael. However, Michael has since moved into a small apartment where the clock would not fit, and her niece, Emily, has expressed a strong interest in it. Rather than going through the formal and potentially costly process of amending her entire will, Sarah simply creates a new Tangible Personal Property Memorandum. In this new memorandum, she revokes any previous memoranda and clearly states that the antique grandfather clock is now to be given to Emily. She signs and dates this new document. Her will contains the standard language allowing for such memoranda to direct the distribution of her personal effects.

  This example highlights the flexibility of a TPPM. Sarah can easily update her wishes regarding a specific tangible personal item (the grandfather clock) by creating a new memorandum, without needing to make formal changes to her will, as long as her will properly references the use of such memoranda.