Perhaps more shocking than Prince’s death, is the absence of a will to dispose of his estate. It is always assumed that will formalities serve one main function—advancing testator wishes and intent. Four secondary functions are also served by wills—evidentiary, ritual, protective, and channeling. Another secondary function, however, allows the testator to advance their wishes—witness requirement or the “preservative” function. These witnesses will most likely assure that fewer wills just disappear when time to dispose of the estate.
See Frederick Vars, What Prince’s Death Can Teach Us About Wills and Estates, AL.com, June 8, 2016.
