What Happens if you Die Without a Will? You Might Leave a Hot Mess Behind

If you die intestate, meaning with a valid, legal will, your assets will be transferred according to the intestacy laws of your state. Those regulations may or may not coincide with your wishes, and even if they do, it can still create a large hassle because of the potential of litigation by your loved ones.

You will must be a legally binding document, and the elements of that also depends on the laws and guidelines of your state. It is not always sufficient to print off a last will and testament template off the internet, fill in the blanks, sign, and shove into a folder somewhere. A sheet of paper (or computer document) explaining your “recommendations of handling” your financial accounts as well as your personal and real assets should never be considered as a substitute for a valid will.

Even if you have “modest” means or finances does not mean that you should entirely discount a will or an estate plan. Attorneys will be upfront about their fees and projected cost, and do not be afraid to ask.

See Michelle Singletary, What Happens if you Die Without a Will? You Might Leave a Hot Mess Behind, Washington Post, August 19, 2018.

Special thanks to Naomi Cahn (Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, George Washington University School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.