If you have not started working on your estate plan yet, you might wonder what would happen to your things if you died without a plan. Many people die without wills or any type of estate plans, and their families must settle their estates without these important tools. If you die without a will, you leave a mess for your family. Here are several things to know about what happens to your things when you die.

Your Family Must Hire a Lawyer Without a Will

Suppose that you die without leaving a will for your family. Without a will, your family will have no directions on how to settle your estate. Therefore, they will need to hire a lawyer to determine how to proceed. When they hire a lawyer, they will likely have to go to probate court to let a judge decide the outcome. Going to probate court requires money and time, and the judge gets to decide how to handle disbursing and transferring your things to your loved ones. Your loved ones might fight over these things, and you will have no say in the matter.

Beneficiary Designations Play a Role

If you do not have a will when you die, you must know that any beneficiary designations you assigned play a role in the way your property transfers from your name to your beneficiaries. If you name people on your bank accounts as beneficiaries or joint accountholders, those individuals will receive those assets. For example, if you place your daughter's name on your bank account, she will be entitled to all the money in your account. If you have a life insurance policy with a beneficiary, the beneficiary will receive all the money from the payout.

Your Will Tells Your Family What to Do

On the other hand, if you die with a will, your will tells your family what to do. Your will contains your wishes for your things, and it provides a chance for you to name your beneficiaries. You can also tell your family how to handle your body after death and the type of services you prefer for your funeral. A will is a vital document to create before you die, and it is not difficult to do.

If you do not have a will or any other type of estate plan, you might want to talk to an estate planning attorney to begin creating yours.