Why do I need a Will?

Traditionally, the Will is the centerpiece of each estate plan. A Will is a document that directs who will receive your property and how they will receive it. If a person dies without a Will, his property passes intestacy typically in part to his spouse and in part to his children, depending on his state of residency. This can be a problem if the decedent wanted his entire estate left to his spouse, or if his children are minors (under the age 18), in which case a formal guardian of the estate would have to be appointed for each minor child.