🏚️ If You Die Without a Will (aka Intestate):
The courts decide who inherits your home, even if that wasn’t your wish.
Multiple heirs? They must agree before the home can be sold — which often causes tension, delay, or legal battles.
Unmarried partners may receive nothing, regardless of how long you’ve shared a life together.
The process is public and can take months — or even years — during an already painful time.

👶🏽 If You Have Minor Children:
A judge decides who raises them. It may not be the person you’d have chosen.
If there’s no clear guardian, your child could end up in foster care temporarily.
Any inheritance for them will be tied up in probate — and handed to them in full at 18, without oversight or structure.
You lose the ability to shape their future, values, and financial foundation.

🧠 If You Become Incapacitated:
No one can legally act on your behalf unless you've authorized it in writing — not even your spouse or adult child.
Loved ones will have to petition the court to access your accounts or make health decisions
 

This process takes time, money, and often creates stress and division during a medical emergency.
Without a healthcare directive, people may disagree about your care, and doctors may follow a path you never would’ve chosen.