There is no law requiring you to create a will. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need a will. You control the distribution of your assets after your death when you create a will. That includes who gets what—and who doesn’t. If you don’t have a will, your state’s probate court decides where everything goes. The court won’t care if you wanted your goddaughter to get every penny, or if you didn’t want your brother to inherit a cent. And if you don’t have a valid will, your heirs may inherit little more than unnecessary taxes and the expense of sorting your affairs.