Key Reasons Why Having a Will is Essential:

1. You, not the state, get to determine how your estate will be distributed.
• Under North Carolina's intestate succession laws, when no Will is present, the probate court will determine what will be received by a surviving spouse, children, and other relatives.
  
  
• If your designations are not recorded in a valid will, you lose control over your surviving assets, and the state makes these decisions on your behalf. In such a case, most typically, half is distributed to the surviving spouse and half is distributed to the children (if any), in equal shares.
           Nothing goes to a trust, even if any of your children are underage, and nothing is shared with your siblings or collateral relatives.

The probate court will appoint an administrator to manage and oversee your estate.
• This can be a time-consuming and costly process.
           Important to note: Until an administrator is appointed, estate assets cannot be used to pay costs, including outstanding medical, funeral, or other expenses.
  
  
• With a will, you are able to designate a trusted individual to administer your assets.
           This executor's responsibilities may include paying bills, closing bank accounts, and liquidating assets, so you should choose someone capable whom you trust to carry out these duties.
           If you do not appoint an executor in your will, the court will decide one for you— and it may not be someone you would have otherwise chosen.
2. Provide clarity to your loved ones.
• During their time of grief, a will will provide your loved ones with a comprehensive overview of how you want your personal property to be distributed, ensuring that your wishes and desires are met.
  Your explicit plan can also prevent conflicts or disputes from arising between family members.
  
  
3. Choose who will take care of your minor children.
• If you are a parent, you can use your will to nominate a guardian for your minor children.
           A guardian is responsible for all of a child's daily needs, including food, clothing, housing, health care, and education.
           If one parent dies, the surviving parent will typically gain sole legal custody of their child(ren). ut if you were the surviving parent, or if both parents pass together without a guardian being nominated in the will, a court will choose one on the child's behalf.
Provide a home for your pets.
• With a will, you can ensure that someone takes care of your animal companion(s) after you die.
  
          The law considers pets to be property, so you cannot leave any assets to your pet(s) in your will. You can, however, name a person to care for your companion(s)—perhaps a trusted friend or family member. You can ask that person to act as a caretaker or guardian for your pet, and even leave them funds in order to provide for the animal's care.

4. Provide funeral instructions.
• You may not want to think about your own funeral. But if you take the time to consider it now and leave instructions in your will, you can lessen the burdens on your loved ones after your passing.
  While funeral directions are not legally binding, they will provide your executors and loved ones some guidance on your wishes.
           When you include instructions, you can (1) name a funeral executor to manage the process, (2) give suggestions for the service proceedings and location, (3) make requests regarding your final resting place, and more.
  
  
5. Leave instructions for your digital assets.
• Your digital assets may include online accounts (such as social media accounts or email) and digital files or property (photos, videos, domain names, etc.).
           In your will, you can name an individual to manage these assets after you pass.
           You can leave different assets to specific people, and include information on how you want the accounts to be closed.

Support your favorite causes and leave a legacy.
• Many people want to leave a positive impact on the world after their passing; a great way to do this is by supporting the charities and causes you value the most.
  
  When you compose a will, you can designate part of your estate to charitable organizations. If you wish to leave a portion of your estate to charity, the information in the Endowment section provides additional information.