Most people know they should have a will, but many adults across Washington State put it off, believing it is only necessary for the elderly or the wealthy. The truth is that a will is one of the most important legal documents any adult can have, regardless of age or the size of their estate. Without one, the decisions that matter most are left entirely to the courts.
At View Ridge Law, we help Washington families understand their estate planning options and create documents that genuinely reflect their wishes. This guide walks through what a will is, why every adult needs one, and what happens if you pass without one in place.
What Is a Will?
A will is your set of instructions for what you want to happen with your stuff after you have died. It helps your family know what to do when they are going through grief and potentially a crisis upon your passing.
If you have properly written your will and executed it, it gives your family direction on how to distribute your money, your property, your things, your pets, and how to provide guardianship for your minor children. It gives them a process to follow during a time when they need it most.
Who Needs a Will?
Every adult should consider making a will. Even if you may not have a whole lot of property right now, you never know what is going to happen. And if you do not have a will and something happens to you, a judge is going to make the decision for you.
State statutes are going to dictate who gets what, and the outcome may be completely different from what you intended. The people you care most about may not receive what you would have chosen for them, and there is nothing your family can do to change it after the fact.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Washington?
If you die without a will, the court is left to decide how to distribute your property. It is left to decide who is going to be in charge of distributing your property and who is going to get paid first when it comes to any debts or creditors you owed at the time of your passing.
Most importantly, it leaves it up to the court to decide who is going to be in charge of your children, and who is going to take care of your kids if you leave them behind before they have turned 18 years old.
If your children are over 18, the court is going to decide how they get the money you have left behind, and it may not come with the protections you really want them to have, especially when you have young adults or people in your life who have disabilities.
Having a will is a great start to protecting your family. It gives them a clear outline of what your wishes are and gives them a process to follow during a time of grief. When you have done the estate planning process, it means your family knows where the assets are, who is going to be in charge of making sure your assets are distributed the way you want them to be, and someone is going to be in charge of making sure your wishes for guardianship of your children are honored.
How a Properly Signed Will Protects Your Family
When you have created a will and done it properly, your family is less likely to encounter litigation, disputes, and conflict after your death. The reason is that you have given clear direction, and as long as you have properly signed the will, the court is obligated to follow your wishes.
That means there is less likelihood of challenges from family members who feel they were left out of the will inappropriately. A will, when done properly, is a self-executing document, and the court is obligated to follow it.
Every adult needs a will. It is a responsible, proactive measure you can take to make sure your family is not left with chaos and confusion when they are grieving the loss of a family member. That is the last thing anyone wants to leave behind. A will is a gift to your family.
