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Wills FAQ

What you need to know about wills -- the most basic estate planning document.

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Answer

What happens if I die without a will?

If you don't make a will or use some other legal method to transfer your property when you die, state law will determine what happens to your property. Generally, it will go to your spouse and children or, if you have neither, to your other closest relatives. If no relatives can be found to inherit your property, it will go to the state.

In addition, in the absence of a will, a court will determine who will care for your young children and their property if the other parent is unavailable or unfit to do so.

If you are part of an unmarried same-sex couple, your surviving partner will not inherit anything unless you live in one of the few states that allows registered domestic partners to inherit like spouses: California, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, and Vermont.

For more information, see The Simple Will: No Frills, No Fuss, No Anxiety.

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