When you die without a will in place, not only do the state laws determine who will inherit your estate, the court will determine who will control your assets after your death. Typically, the heirs select an administrator; however, in some instances, a county administrator is appointed because the heirs cannot agree on an administrator. This can create undue grief and financial issues for your loved ones. Your estate does not need to be worth over $1 million dollars to have proper estate planning documents in place – any property, bank accounts, life insurance policies, or other remaining assets will more than likely have to go through the probate court. Having a valid will tremendously helps your family proceed through the process with ease instead of the state making your decisions for you.