To Will, or not to Will?

If you die without a Will, what happens to all your stuff depends on the value of what you’ve left behind. If all your stuff (aka assets) is worth less than $15,000, your closest living relative will be able to manage all the details of administering your estate without having to apply for probate. However, if all your stuff is worth more than $15,000, or you own property, someone will need to apply to the Court to get legal authority to act as your executor and sort everything out (this is a lot harder without a Will).

If you do die without a Will, all your things will be distributed through the laws of intestacy. A lot of people think this means their stuff just goes to their partner, or to their children when they pass away. The reality is a lot more complex and often not what you actually want, so we recommend you check out our section about debunked “Common Misconceptions” below - it’s a real page turner!