[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-payload-top-7-reasons-everyone-needs-a-last-will-and-testament":3},{"id":4,"cmsSource":5,"title":6,"slug":7,"butterSlug":7,"category":8,"state":8,"legalPage":8,"author":8,"tldr":8,"costBreakdown":9,"summary":10,"featuredImage":8,"featuredImageUrl":11,"featuredImageAlt":8,"hero":12,"headerOverride":13,"tocTitle":8,"hideToc":8,"body":15,"categories":83,"tags":96,"primaryProduct":101,"meta":103,"updatedAt":106,"createdAt":107,"_status":108},231,"payload","7 Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Last Will and Testament","top-7-reasons-everyone-needs-a-last-will-and-testament",null,[],"It is easy to become complacent with things like creating a last will and testament. Besides, we are all going to live to be 100, right? The unfortunate truth of the matter is that if you die without a will, a court will end up deciding your...","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.buttercms.com\u002F6OuQZuyDT3i9fyfohFZA",{"overline":8,"title":8,"subtitle":8},{"title":8,"link":8,"cta":14},"Get Started",[16,20,26,29,33,36,40,43,47,50,54,57,61,64,68,71,75,78],{"id":17,"content":8,"legacyHtml":18,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0008","\u003Cp>It is easy to become complacent with things like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.legalnature.com\u002Fcategories\u002Festate-planning\u002Flast-will-and-testament\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow noopener\">creating a last will and testament\u003C\u002Fa>. Besides, we are all going to live to be 100, right? The unfortunate truth of the matter is that if you die without a will, a court will end up deciding your affairs for you. Here are some important reasons for making sure you’re covered early.\u003C\u002Fp>","guide-rich-text",{"id":21,"level":22,"text":23,"anchorId":24,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0009","h2","To Make Sure Your Property Goes to Your Loved Ones","to-make-sure-your-property-goes-to-your-loved-ones","guide-heading",{"id":27,"content":8,"legacyHtml":28,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e000a","\u003Cp>If you die intestate (without a will), then specific relatives will receive your property by default. It is even possible that some or all of your property will go to the government if those relatives are no longer living. With a last will you can specify the friends and family you want to leave inheritances to, how much they will get, and on what conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":30,"level":22,"text":31,"anchorId":32,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e000b","To Ensure Your Children Are Raised How You Want","to-ensure-your-children-are-raised-how-you-want",{"id":34,"content":8,"legacyHtml":35,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e000c","\u003Cp>You might assume that your spouse or guardian of choice will automatically get custody of your kids, but this is often far from the truth. Nasty court battles over custody often ensue when a parent dies, and this can cost your family and kids dearly.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":37,"level":22,"text":38,"anchorId":39,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e000d","Because Sparky Might Go to the Pound","because-sparky-might-go-to-the-pound",{"id":41,"content":8,"legacyHtml":42,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e000e","\u003Cp>That’s right! If you don’t specify who will care for your pets when you are gone, they could end up at the pound. Many people feel burdened having to support someone else’s pe; do not just assume a family member will step up to the plate.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":44,"level":22,"text":45,"anchorId":46,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e000f","So You Don't Have to Pay Extra Court Fees","so-you-dont-have-to-pay-extra-court-fees",{"id":48,"content":8,"legacyHtml":49,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0010","\u003Cp>Without a will in place, the court will appoint an administrator to help resolve your affairs. This can cost you up to 10% of everything you own in fees. Furthermore, appointing your own personal representative will help ensure your will is carried out according to your wishes.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":51,"level":22,"text":52,"anchorId":53,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0011","To Set up a Trust","to-set-up-a-trust",{"id":55,"content":8,"legacyHtml":56,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0012","\u003Cp>Many people choose to create \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.legalnature.com\u002Fcategories\u002Festate-planning\u002Flast-will-and-testament---with-trusts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow noopener\">trusts in their wills\u003C\u002Fa>. These trusts go into effect upon your death and give you great flexibility and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.legalnature.com\u002Fguides\u002Fis-a-revocable-living-trust-right-for-you\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow noopener\">control over how your property gets distributed\u003C\u002Fa>. For instance, you can create a trust that provides for disbursements of funds for the health, education, and support of your children and spouse over a period of years.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":58,"level":22,"text":59,"anchorId":60,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0013","To Protect Your New Family","to-protect-your-new-family",{"id":62,"content":8,"legacyHtml":63,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0014","\u003Cp>If you have remarried and now have a new family, a last will can help make sure that your new family is provided for after you pass away.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":65,"level":22,"text":66,"anchorId":67,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0015","So You Can Have a Rock Star Funeral","so-you-can-have-a-rock-star-funeral",{"id":69,"content":8,"legacyHtml":70,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0016","\u003Cp>In your will you can specify exactly how you want your funeral to take place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\r\n\u003Cli>Do you want to be cremated or buried intact?\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n\u003Cli>Where should the ceremony take place?\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n\u003Cli>What celebrity will give your eulogy?\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n\u003C\u002Ful>",{"id":72,"level":22,"text":73,"anchorId":74,"blockName":8,"blockType":25},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0017","How To Create Your Last Will and Testament","how-to-create-your-last-will-and-testament",{"id":76,"content":8,"legacyHtml":77,"blockName":8,"blockType":19},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0018","\u003Cp>You can easily create your last will and testament in just minutes online using our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.legalnature.com\u002Fcategories\u002Festate-planning\u002Flast-will-and-testament\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow noopener\">last will and testament form\u003C\u002Fa>. Get started today!\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":79,"variant":80,"productName":81,"link":81,"cta":14,"message":8,"blockName":8,"blockType":82},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e0019","document","","guide-product-cta",[84,88,92],{"id":85,"name":86,"slug":87},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e001a","Estate Planning","estate-planning",{"id":89,"name":90,"slug":91},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e001b","Last Will and Testament","last-will-and-testament",{"id":93,"name":94,"slug":95},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e001c","Last Will and Testament - with Trusts","last-will-and-testament-with-trusts",[97],{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100},"6a0c42676ab1b500603e001d","US Article","us-article",{"name":90,"slug":91,"productVersionSlug":102},"lwte-1589",{"title":104,"description":105,"keyword":8,"ogImage":8},"7 Reasons Everyone Needs A Last Will And Testament | LegalNature","Discover the top 7 reasons every adult needs a last will and testament, regardless of age, wealth, or family situation.","2026-09-18T10:00:29.299Z","2026-05-19T10:58:47.994Z","published"]