Getting "the business' from the family

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Xon wrote:

Don't your parents know that intelligent Aspies make excellent engineers? Do you have a college degree in engineering? If you do not, all you need is some apprentice work to be an engineering technician. Check out bls.gov. I think your parents should have at least hired you for something like that. In fact, judging from your profile, you have successfully found work as a medical electronics technician.

But your family's response to your condition seems rather puzzling and insensitive. Maybe they are the ones who need to learn better people skills. But I digress...

I don't suppose you are living in either the Shoals (with its small but relatively thriving medical technology industry) or the Madison area (with its plethora of engineering firms)? I frequent both these regions on a weekly basis through work and school and it is good to know there are other Aspies in these areas.

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No, I don't think they realize that Aspies are the "scary-smart super geeks" of the world. They obviously know my high IQ and technical abilities. But they put a higher value on social ability and level of college attained (I never did well in college). In that respect, I'd say Wally Loman is dead on.

I'm actually in Birmingham. I grew up here, but only recently moved back here from Minnesota (just going wherever I can find good paying work). I wasn't aware that the Shoals area had a med tech industry. Might have to check into that.

Here's a classic conversation from my family. We were having dinner last night to celebrate my wife's birthday. We were just discussing various things and my wife mentioned that I'm building a new island for our kitchen. My brothers wife just about jumps up and says "Could you build me one?" My brother says they also need a new entertainment center, my mom remembers that some carpentry work is going to be required to get their oven replaced. I'm saying "Sure, I'd be glad to". Then my brother sort of half joking says "This would all be gratis right?" Not a chance, says I, time plus materials. Mom then turns to dad and says "That guy who used to work for you would probably do it right. I know he's pretty busy but he could work us in eventually." And that was pretty much the end of that.

So let me get this straight, based on the other posts you have made:

When your parents die:

1) Your brother will get the rights to the business name, patents, royalties, customer lists, equipment/furniture, etc.
2) You will get the rights to the property the business is located on but must resell it to your brother.

I hope they fixed a price because otherwise, they will have created a monstrosity of a court fight which could for all intensive purposes ruin your borthers share (you would come out fine because the actual real estate is not dependent on whether the business thrives or fails).

Your parents are right in the business having someone who is good socially. They however do not understand that there is also a need for someone to do the backend work. They are running their business based on their values.

With that said, if you think you are going to get shafted, why continue to work for them. If I were you, I would put out my resume and see if anyone would be willing to hire me. If that upsets your parents then so be it. When it comes to the family business, your relationship with them is an employer/employee relationship (or should be, not that it actually happens). You have just as much right to not work for them as they have in not hiring you.

Wow, 6 months. Either the lawyers are milking the issue for all it is worth, or even they cannot find a way to do what your father wants without the issue becoming entangled in the courts (or your father having to outright disinherit you).

In any case, this could be made real easy:

1) Your brother gets all of the business property (makes sense since he wants your brother to get the business anyways)
2) You get all of the personal property
3) Any difference is made up with a cash transfer. (This is optional unless the difference would be huge)

This will keep the lawyers out of it and save time (as well as the estate money). Of course, coming from you, your father will probably never listen to this so you will be stuck with his mistakes. I hope for yours (and your borther's) sake that the lawyers do not run the business into the ground with their fees when your father does pass away.