The Essential Get a Will Guide for 2025

Think you don’t need a will? Think again. Your family’s future might just depend on whether you actually get a will or leave them to battle it out like contestants on a bad reality show.

This guide is here to demystify the whole process, making it so simple and affordable that even the most committed procrastinator can’t make excuses.

You’ll find out why a will is essential, what chaos erupts if you skip it, how to create yours step-by-step, which rookie mistakes to avoid, and how to keep your wishes up to date. Ready to get responsible? Let’s make sure your legacy is more than a pile of paperwork and regret.

Why You Need a Will in 2025

Think you have time to get a will “someday”? Someday is always tomorrow, right? Spoiler: The government is not waiting to do you any favors if you die without a plan. Here’s why you need to stop procrastinating and actually get a will this year.

The Risks of Dying Intestate

Dying intestate is just a fancy way of saying you didn’t get a will, so now your family gets to play “Who Gets the Couch?”—starring the state government as judge and jury. State laws, not your wishes, decide who inherits your stuff. Real-world inheritance disputes can split families for generations.

In 2023, a whopping 67% of Americans didn’t have a will, according to Caring.com’s 2024 Wills & Estate Planning Study. If you have minor kids, the court picks their guardian. Want your in-laws raising your kids? Yeah, didn’t think so.

Protecting Your Loved Ones and Assets

When you get a will, you’re actually giving your loved ones a gift: clarity. Your wishes are spelled out, which means less family drama and a smoother, faster process through probate court.

You also protect dependents and vulnerable heirs, like that cousin who can’t manage money or your favorite charity. Want to avoid your family’s name trending in the tabloids? Just ask the heirs of Prince or Aretha Franklin how fun it is to fight over millions with no will in sight.

Modern Reasons to Update or Get a Will

Think your will from 2009 still covers your crypto wallet, TikTok empire, or that out-of-state Airbnb? Think again. In 2025, digital assets and online accounts are part of your legacy, and only a current will can cover them.

Blended families, stepchildren, and second spouses are now the norm, not the exception. Remote work means you might own property across state lines, and property values keep climbing. All of these mean it’s time to get a will that actually fits your modern life.

The Peace of Mind Factor

Want to sleep better at night? Get a will and feel the anxiety melt away. Your family will thank you for saving them time, legal fees, and emotional stress.

Probate can drag on for months, but with a will, you control the narrative. You get to decide who gets what, not some judge who’s never met you. That’s real peace of mind.

Common Myths Debunked

Let’s bust some classic excuses for not getting a will:

• “I’m too young or too broke.” Tell that to the lottery winner who died at 25.
• “My family knows what I want.” Sure, until they don’t.
• “Wills are only for the rich.” Newsflash: Even your beat-up car and dog need a plan.

The truth? Anyone over 18 with stuff, kids, or a pulse should get a will—unless you’re aiming for a family feud.

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Will in 2025

So, you want to get a will and finally stop tempting fate? Good. Let’s break it down. No Latin, no legalese, just the steps you need to actually protect your PlayStation from your ex and your family from total chaos.

Step 1: Assess Your Needs and Assets

Before you get a will, you need to know what you’re actually passing on. Make a list of everything you own, from your house to that collection of rare Funko Pops. Don’t forget digital assets like crypto wallets and that YouTube channel no one watches.

• Property: homes, cars, land
• Financial accounts: checking, savings, investments
• Valuables: jewelry, collectibles, electronics
• Digital assets: social media, crypto, cloud storage

Decide who gets what. If you have kids, pick someone who won’t let them eat candy for dinner as their guardian. And remember, debts count too. You don’t want your heirs inheriting a pile of credit card statements.

Step 2: Choose the Right Will Type

Now, pick your poison. Not all wills are created equal. Do you need a simple will for your modest empire or do you have secret offshore accounts (just kidding, IRS)? Maybe you need a testamentary trust for your wild child.

• Simple will: straightforward, for basic estates
• Complex will: for blended families or messy situations
• Testamentary trust: adds control for minors or spendthrifts
• Living will: for medical wishes, not who gets your vinyls

Each state has its own rules. Check them or risk your will being as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

Step 3: Decide How to Create Your Will

Ready to get a will? There’s DIY, online, and the classic lawyer route. DIY is cheap but risky (remember that time you put together IKEA furniture without instructions?). Lawyers are thorough but expensive and love paperwork.

For a streamlined, legally valid option that doesn’t cost as much as a funeral, consider a Modern will creation solution. It’s fast and simple, even if you’re allergic to paperwork.

Step 4: Drafting and Reviewing Your Will

This is where you get specific. Name your executor (the lucky person who gets to do your paperwork after you die), your beneficiaries, and guardians for minors. Be clear. “My stuff goes to my family” is not going to cut it.

Make sure you meet your state’s legal requirements. Review your draft with a pro if your situation is anything but vanilla. A little effort now saves your family a lot of grief later.

Step 5: Executing and Storing Your Will

You’ve come this far to get a will, so don’t mess up at the finish line. Sign your will in front of the right number of witnesses (varies by state). Some states want notarization, others just want signatures. Read the rules.

Store your will somewhere safe: fireproof safe, bank box, or encrypted digital vault. Don’t hide it so well that no one ever finds it. That’s just a treasure hunt no one wants.

Step 6: Keeping Your Will Updated

Life changes, and so should your will. Marriage, divorce, new kids, new assets, or if you suddenly become a crypto millionaire—update your will. Aim for a yearly review or whenever life throws you a curveball.

Outdated wills are like expired milk: dangerous and sure to cause a mess.

Step 7: Communicating Your Wishes

Here’s the part everyone avoids. Tell your executor and a few trusted family members where your will is and what’s in it. Don’t blindside your loved ones from beyond the grave.

Getting a will is only half the job. Making sure people know it exists is what keeps your family from starring in their own courtroom drama.

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

So, you’ve decided to roll the dice and skip that whole “get a will” thing. Here’s what actually happens when you leave your family hanging: the state steps in, and suddenly your legacy is at the mercy of strangers in suits.

State Laws and the Probate Process

Here’s the fun part: when you don’t get a will, your assets are divided according to your state’s rules, not your wishes. The probate court takes over, and your family gets a front-row seat to bureaucracy. In the U.S., probate drags on for 6 to 12 months, with costs averaging thousands. Want proof? Check out Trust & Will’s probate process statistics for the cold, hard numbers. Sometimes, your stuff even ends up with that distant cousin you never liked.

Impact on Minor Children and Dependents

No will, no instructions. The court decides who raises your kids or takes care of vulnerable dependents. Forget the loving grandma—your children could land with whoever the court decides is “best.” About 30 percent of U.S. parents have zero guardianship plan. So, unless you want your kids’ future decided by a stranger, maybe get a will before your next skydiving trip.

Financial and Emotional Toll on Families

Welcome to the Probate Olympics: legal fees from $3,000 to $7,000, endless paperwork, and months of waiting. Families face stress, grief, and sometimes all-out war over your assets. Here’s what gets lost in the shuffle:

• Time (months to years)
• Money (lawyers don’t work for hugs)
• Relationships (Thanksgiving will never be the same)

Wouldn’t it be easier to just get a will and save everyone the drama?

Special Cases: Unmarried Couples and Blended Families

Think your partner or stepkids are protected? Think again. If you don’t get a will, unmarried partners have no automatic rights, and stepchildren are often left with nothing. Modern families are complicated, but intestacy laws are stuck in the 1800s. Don’t expect common sense—get a will if your family tree looks anything like a bramble bush.

Avoiding These Pitfalls

Here’s the big secret: all this chaos is 100 percent avoidable. Most probate disputes (about 80 percent) happen because someone didn’t get a will. Give your loved ones the gift of clarity and skip the legal soap opera. Get a will, and your family will thank you—eventually.

Choosing the Best Way to Create Your Will

So, you want to get a will but have the attention span of a goldfish and the motivation of a houseplant. Good news: there are more ways to get a will in 2025 than ever before, and you can even do it while binge-watching reality TV. Let’s break down your options, roast your excuses, and help you make a choice that won’t make your future ghost cringe.

DIY, Online, or Lawyer: What’s Right for You?

You can get a will in three ways: the old-school lawyer route, a click-happy online service, or the classic “wing it with a template” DIY approach. Want a cheat sheet?

DIY gets you bragging rights for thriftiness, but mess up and your family gets front-row seats to the Probate Circus. Online services are faster than your last breakup, while lawyers bring the muscle for complex estates. Want specifics? Check out these Estate planning articles and guides to dig deeper.

Cost, Convenience, and Legal Validity

Let’s be real: the urge to get a will dies when you see price tags. But putting it off could cost your family thousands. Online platforms let you get a will for less than your monthly coffee habit, and you don’t even need to wear pants. Lawyers charge more, but they’ll spot issues you didn’t know existed—like that ex who still has “accidental beneficiary” written all over your life insurance.

Online is fast (30 minutes), lawyers are slow (weeks), and DIY is only legal if you don’t screw up your state’s rules. Hidden fees? Watch out, some services are sneakier than your teenager’s browser history.

When to Use an Online Will Service

Online will services are the unsung heroes for anyone with a life messier than a toddler’s birthday party. If your estate is simple, or you just want to get a will done before you forget, online platforms are perfect. They work in all 50 states, and they’re built for people who’d rather do anything else (literally, anything) than talk to a lawyer.

Young families, first-timers, and those who just want to cross “get a will” off the existential to-do list—this is your moment. But if you have a secret offshore account (lucky you), keep reading.

Killswitch: A Modern Solution for Estate Planning

Killswitch is here to drag you, kicking and screaming, into responsible adulthood. It’s built for people who want to get a will in under 30 minutes, with no hidden fees and zero small print. One flat price, no upsells, and you can finally stop worrying about your ex getting your PlayStation.

It’s legally valid in every state and handles most family setups, even if your last family dinner ended in a food fight. If you want peace of mind minus the legal headaches, Killswitch is your shortcut.

When to Consult an Estate Planning Attorney

Some of you are too complicated for a basic approach. If you own a business, have international assets, a blended family, or someone in your life who will contest your will out of spite, don’t cheap out. Get a will through a lawyer—yes, it costs more, but your legacy isn’t the place to cut corners.

Attorneys also help if you need trusts, special-needs planning, or you just want to make sure your “final wishes” don’t turn into a legal horror show. Don’t leave your family in the lurch. Get a will that stands up in court, not just on your kitchen table.

Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a Will

Think you can just get a will and call it a day? Please. If you want your family to remember you fondly (and not as the person who left them a legal dumpster fire), read up on these classic screwups. Getting a will is step one. Not botching it is step two.

Not Updating Your Will Regularly

Congrats, you managed to get a will. Now, don’t let it fossilize. Life changes fast—marriages, divorces, surprise offspring, or a new crypto fortune. An outdated will is like leaving your Netflix password to your ex. Do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and update your will whenever life throws a curveball. Review it every year, or whenever you buy something expensive enough to brag about.

Choosing the Wrong Executor or Guardian

Picking your most “fun” friend to execute your will is like letting your dog babysit your kids—entertaining, maybe, but not wise. Your executor should be responsible, trustworthy, and ideally not allergic to paperwork. The same brutal logic applies to guardians. Choose people who can handle the job, not just the ones who throw the best parties.

Missing Key Legal Requirements

You can write your last wishes on a napkin, but unless you meet your state’s legal requirements, it’s just a sad piece of paper. Each state has its own rules for signatures, witnesses, and sometimes notarization. Skip a step and your will might be as useful as a Monopoly deed. Want the details? Check out Kiplinger’s estate planning tips for 2025 for expert advice on getting it right.

Overlooking Digital Assets and Online Accounts

If you think your digital life vanishes when you do, think again. Social media, crypto wallets, online bank accounts—they outlive you unless you plan for them. Appoint a digital executor and leave clear instructions. Otherwise, your heirs will be locked out, and your embarrassing emails might live forever.

Failing to Communicate Your Wishes

You went to get a will, but did you tell anyone what’s in it? Secrets are fun for surprise parties, not for inheritance. Let your executor and key family members know where your will is and what it says. Open communication now can prevent awkward family feuds later. Don’t be the reason your family ends up on a reality TV show.

Keeping Your Will Secure and Up to Date

Let’s face it, if you’re going to get a will, you might as well not lose it in the sock drawer or let your dog eat it. The final step of adulting is making sure your masterpiece of postmortem planning doesn’t vanish or become outdated. Here’s how to lock it down, keep it fresh, and make sure the right people actually know it exists.

Safe Storage Options for Your Will

So, you finally get a will. Do you stuff it under your mattress, toss it in a random drawer, or frame it above your toilet? Please don’t. The best options for will storage are a fireproof home safe, a safety deposit box, or a secure digital vault.

Digital storage is the modern move, but only if you know your privacy isn’t just a marketing buzzword. Curious about how online services actually lock down your will? Check out privacy and will storage security to see what real protection looks like.

• Home safe: Fireproof, waterproof, and ideally not labeled “WILL INSIDE, STEAL ME.”
• Bank safety deposit box: Secure, but make sure your executor can access it without hiring a safecracker.
• Digital storage: Online platforms with encryption, not your public Dropbox folder.

If you get a will and lose it, it’s like never writing it in the first place.

How Often Should You Review Your Will?

Think your will is a set-it-and-forget-it deal? Hard pass. Life changes faster than fashion trends. Marriage, divorce, new kids, a surprise lottery win, or just buying that sweet beach condo means it’s time to dust off your paperwork.

Set a calendar reminder to review your will annually, or whenever a major event happens. There are free digital tools that nag you (in a good way) to check your documents, so you don’t have to rely on your memory. If you get a will, make it a habit to actually look at it once in a while.

Sharing Your Will with the Right People

You wouldn’t hide your house keys from your spouse, so don’t keep your will a secret from your executor or family. Tell your executor where your will is, and give a copy to your attorney or trusted advisor.

• Share with your executor (or they’ll never find it).
• Let key family members know you got a will and where it’s stored.
• If you’ve got a lawyer, let them keep a copy too.

This simple step prevents the classic “I swear Dad said I get the boat” drama.

Integrating Your Will with Broader Estate Planning

A will is just the beginning. Level up your legacy by coordinating with trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Here’s how your estate plan should look:

If you get a will but skip the rest, you’re only half-prepared. Comprehensive planning means fewer headaches for your loved ones and more control over your death party.

Let’s be real—you’re going to die someday. Probably not today but, hey, wouldn’t it be nice if your family didn’t have to turn Thanksgiving into a courtroom drama over your vinyl collection and secret crypto stash Because here’s the deal, skipping a will is the ultimate “let someone else clean up my mess” move. You’ve already made it through this guide which means you’re officially smarter and less irresponsible than you were ten minutes ago. So do your future ghost self a favor: lock down your wishes, save your loved ones the hassle, and show those stuffy lawyers you don’t need their hourly fees. Start My Will Now