5 Totally Valid Reasons You Don’t Need a Will (Said No One Ever)
…with one bonus reason that really matters.
You’ve probably heard it before: “You really should make a will.” But maybe you’re different. Maybe you like to live on the edge—tempting fate and family feuds. If so, this article is for you.
Here are five perfectly good reasons to skip writing a will, plus one you might not have thought of, and exactly what can happen if you do.
1. You Love Surprises… Especially for Your Family
Why ruin the drama? Without a will, your loved ones can enjoy the full experience of confusion, court delays, and conflict. Think of it like reality TV, except it’s your real-life family fighting over furniture, money, or who gets the cat.
No guidance? No problem! Just let the courts decide. And your loved ones can spend months (or even years) sorting through your estate, wondering if you really wanted your golf clubs to go to your third cousin.
Reality check: Without a will, provincial intestacy laws decide who inherits what. That might mean your estranged sibling gets more than your longtime partner. Or your kids inherit at 18 with no guidance or oversight. Surprising? You bet. Comforting? Not at all.
2. You Trust the Government to Make the Right Call
Why bother making decisions when the government will do it for you? If there’s no will, the court will kindly step in to appoint someone to manage your estate. You might get lucky and end up with someone responsible. Or not.
And if there’s any friction among your relatives? Well, that’s just more time and money spent on legal fees instead of going to the people or causes that matter to you.
Reality check: A will lets you name your executor, the person you trust to handle your estate, pay debts, and distribute assets. Without one, the court chooses. And if no one steps forward? Expect delays, legal costs, and plenty of frustration.
3. You Think Kids Are Great at Making Adult Decisions
Who better to decide what happens to your estate than your kids? Especially if they’re teenagers who just learned to do their own laundry and think budgeting means checking if they can afford takeout. They’ll definitely make smart, thoughtful choices with your assets… right after upgrading their phone.
It’s easy to assume your children will be taken care of automatically, or that a relative will step up. But unless it’s spelled out legally, none of that is guaranteed. And even if they do inherit, a sudden windfall with no guidance is more burden than gift.
Reality check: If you have young children and no will, your assets may be tied up until your children reach adulthood without financial guidance or protection. Even adult children may be unprepared to take on major financial decisions without clear instructions.
After Tom’s parents passed, he inherited their entire estate on his 18th birthday because there was no trust or will to guide distribution. Within a year, much of it was gone. “If they’d had a plan in place, I know I would’ve made better decisions,” he now admits.
4. You Enjoy Watching People Fight Over Your Stuff
Why not leave your loved ones with one final gift: the opportunity to argue over your belongings? Nothing brings out buried resentment like deciding who gets the dining room table or your favorite armchair.
Without clear instructions, even families that get along often end up in conflict. What should you expect? Fireworks. And lawyers.
Reality check: Clear instructions in a will can prevent disputes and help keep relationships intact. When nothing is spelled out, people interpret things their own way, and that can lead to resentment, litigation, and permanently damaged family ties.
5. You’re Planning to Live Forever
This one’s foolproof. If you never die, you never need a will. So keep taking your vitamins, doing yoga, and watching longevity podcasts. Immortality is just around the corner, right?
But seriously, most people don’t plan to die unexpectedly. That’s the point. A will isn’t about being pessimistic. It’s about protecting the people and values that matter to you.
Reality check: As much as we all hope to live long, healthy lives, the truth is that life is unpredictable. Accidents happen. Illnesses strike. A will ensures that what you leave behind is handled the way you intended, with care, clarity, and purpose.
Bonus: You Assume Someone Will Just “Step In” as Guardian
You might assume your best friend, sibling, or parent will take care of your kids if something happens to you. And maybe they will, but that’s not a given unless it’s documented in your will.
The court doesn’t go by intention. It goes by law. That means the person you’d trust most may not even be considered. And in some cases, your children could end up in the care of someone you never would have chosen.
Reality check: A will allows you to name a legal guardian for your children. Without that direction, the court decides who will raise them—and it may not align with your wishes or your child’s best interests.
When Amanda’s sister passed away suddenly, Amanda assumed she’d care for her two young nieces. But without a will naming her as guardian, the court awarded custody to a distant relative in another province. “It was devastating,” she says. “I thought we were all on the same page, but there was nothing in writing.”
You Deserve a Say, Even When You’re Not Here
It’s easy to put off estate planning, especially when life is busy. But the cost of doing nothing isn’t just legal, it’s emotional. When you don’t leave clear instructions, you leave behind confusion, court costs, and in some cases, irreversible damage to relationships.
Planning ahead doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Take the First Step with the Essentials Package
If you’re ready to protect your loved ones from uncertainty, start with a simple plan that brings clarity and peace of mind. At NEXsteps, our Essentials Package is designed to help you:
- Clarify your wishes
- Get organized
- Appoint a trusted executor and guardian
- Reduce the burden on those left behind
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own—but you do have to take the first step.
Learn more about the Essentials Package
Visit our services page to see how we can help.
Watch our video here, or watch on our YouTube Channel:
Prefer a podcast? Listen here!
Please send us your questions or share your comments.
Disclaimer: This content is for general information only and is not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice.
