It is possible that you don’t need a will if some or all of the following are true:

• You have no assets to pass on at your death.

• You have no children for whom you need to select guardians and alternate
  guardians. - Guardianship for minor children may be the most important reason for those with minor children to establish an estate plan.

• You have no need to choose a trustee to manage your assets after your death.

• You have no others for whom you wish to provide after your death.

• You are willing to accept the provisions of law in your state that determine how your assets will be distributed if you die intestate (without a will).

• You are not concerned about paying federal estate and state inheritance taxes.

• You have no interest in charitable giving.

As you can see, in order to address some or all of these important issues, most individuals do need a will and some estate planning. In addition, many individuals need trusts for a variety of reasons.