If you die without a will, state "intestacy" law decides who gets your assets — which may not match your wishes. A will lets you control who inherits and name guardians for children.
Without a will, the state’s intestacy laws distribute your assets according to a fixed formula — usually to spouse and children in set shares — regardless of what you actually wanted. A will lets you decide who inherits, name an executor, and critically, nominate guardians for minor children. It doesn’t have to be complex. If you have any assets, children, or specific wishes, a basic will prevents your estate from being divided by a default rule that may ignore the people and causes you care about.
A court decides guardianship without your input. A will lets you nominate the guardian you want, which courts give strong weight to.
Not by itself — a will still goes through probate. Tools like living trusts and beneficiary designations can help assets pass outside probate.
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