Every adult should have a will, especially if there are assets, property, dependents, or a spouse. If you do not have a will (or if the will is not valid), the person who passes will be considered to have died “intestate,” and your estate may not be divided according to your wishes.
In the absence of a will, the court will decide who will become the caregiver of any children, which could cause additional emotional stress for your family.
Whether there is a will or not, there are still tasks that need to be taken care of. If there is no will, these tasks become more complicated. The time it takes to close your affairs may take months and even years longer than if you had a valid written will.