Are you married? Do you have children? Do you own a home or have life insurance? Are you concerned about taxes? Are you concerned about your family's future?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you should have a Will.
Without a Will, your property will be distributed according to New York law. If you're married, your spouse won't get everything! New York law provides that a surviving spouse only gets one-half of your estate. Will this be enough to support your spouse?
Who will take care of your children? Your sister, a neighbor, or the in-laws? Without your direction, the court will decide who will take care of your children.
Without a Will, Uncle Sam may become your unintended beneficiary by requiring the payment of substantial estate taxes.
Do you want someone else making your decisions for your family? A will enables you to prepare for your family's future now and ensures that your wishes are followed--not someone else's.
In addition to Wills, there are other estate planning devices which help provide for your family's future support and stability: Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Durable Powers of Attorneys and Trusts.