A Will (“Last Will and Testament”) is a legal document that allows you to leave instructions to be carried out after you die. It lays out how you want your estate to be divided and who you’d like to receive your assets. You’re also able to nominate the person or persons who you’d like to help carry out your instructions, called your Executor(s), as well as a Guardian to care for any minor children.
If you don’t have a will in place, state law will determine how your estate is distributed. These laws – called “intestacy laws” – have a set procedure for determining succession and inheritance, and vary depending on the state that you live in. Creating a will helps to simplify and streamline the probate process by clearly outlining your wishes, and gives you the power to decide what happens to your estate after you’re gone.