Select a Topic Ê

►What is a will?

►Who needs  a will?

►What can be accomplished by making a will?

►What happens when one dies without a will?

►What are the requirements for a valid will?

►A Last Will is different than a Living Will

►A Last Will is different than a Living Trust

►Last Will v. Power of Attorney

What happens when one dies without a valid will?

First, when you die without a valid will, your property will be distributed according to the laws of your state called intestate succession laws. This means that the courts will distribute your property according to the fixed and impersonal  formulas adopted by the legislature of your state. Many times, the results are not what you would have wanted. For example, if you are married and do not have children, your surviving spouse may be required to share your property with your parents.

Secondly, without a valid will, you leave it up to the courts and the social services to figure out who will care for your minor children, and who will manage the property they will inherit. Most parents want to prevent that from happening.  By making a valid will, you control what happens to your children.