Dying without a Will? Most people know they need a Will. And many of them fully intend to write a Will… someday. But life is busy and the will keeps getting put off. Eventually, someday becomes never. In fact, nearly half of American adults will die without a Will in place. So what happens if you die without a Will?
The Legislature Writes Your Will For You
Your state’s legislature has passed laws that dictate who will get the property of someone who dies without a valid Will. These are called the laws of intestate succession. (Testament is simply another name for a Will. If you die without a Will, you are said to have died intestate͟—that is, without a testament.) The laws of intestate succession generally give your property to your heirs at law – your nearest family members. If you leave a spouse and children (or grandchildren), your property will usually be divided among them. If you die without children, some of your property will probably be given to your parents, siblings, nieces, or nephews.
Different states use different percentages for dividing the property. If you don’t leave any close family members, your property may be divided among more extended family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In the rare situation where you don’t have any close-enough blood relatives alive when you die, the state government gets to have your property. As an example, suppose that you live in California and your only close family members are your spouse and your sister. Under California law, if you die without a Will, your spouse will get half your property and your sister will get the other half. But if you leave behind your spouse and three children, then your spouse will get one third of your property, and your children will equally divide the rest.
Without a Will, you also have no control over what happens to your family heirlooms or other special items. In a Will, for example, you can leave your wedding ring to your daughter, or your coin collection to your brother. But without a Will, all those special things may end up being sold so that the money can be divided among your heirs.
A Judge Chooses the Guardian for Your Children
If you have young children, maybe the most important part of your will is naming someone to be their guardian, in case both you and your children’s other parent die. It always takes a court order to appoint a guardian. But the judge will appoint the person you name in your Will, unless there are serious reasons not to (for example, if the person has been convicted of child abuse). If you die without a Will, however, and haven’t named a guardian, the judge will have to choose someone without your input.
As careful and caring as the judge may be, he or she doesn’t know your children or what you would decide for them. The judge may make a decision that you would never make yourself. And if a guardian has to be named, he or she will become the most important person in your children’s lives, helping them overcome the tragedy of losing their parents and influencing them to go on to lead happy, productive lives. Do you really want to leave that decision up to a complete stranger?
Pierchoski Estate Law is here to help write a Will that can be executed in the State of Tennessee. Old statutes that were written long before computers and the internet mean that you can’t leave your Will on a computer to be printed upon your death. The Will must be properly drafted to meet Tennessee law and it must be witnessed and executed properly to be recognized as your legal Will. We can make certain that what you intended is what will happen through your Will.
A Note from the Attorney, Stan Pierchoski:
The practice of law is a second career for me. After obtaining Master of Science degrees in both Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering, I worked in the Nuclear Power Industry for 15 years. Always having an interest in law, I attended and graduated from law school and founded the Pierchoski Law Firm in 2002 in Pulaski, TN. For several years I practiced as a criminal defense, trial attorney. After my parents passed I became interested in Trust and Estate Law and felt a strong calling to change my practice to the Estate Planning area.
For years I have been exclusively doing trust writing and wealth planning and have become proficient at it. Over the last several years my practice has evolved to serve all age groups including elders and Medicaid Planning. I am always open to your questions and am more than happy to chat with you about your concerns so give me a call or stop by my office. You’ll be glad you did!