Updated 8/30/2013
My husband and I recently had our wills drawn up. We are young and healthy, so why worry? Because our children are worth it. I learned that pretty much anything can happen to your kids if you and your spouse die unexpectedly. They could end up being raised by someone you would never choose. Rather, a judge who doesn't know you or your family gets to choose their fate. Sure, they go to your self-centered sister who's never cooked a meal in her life, and when she and the children overcome their differences and learn to work together, it becomes a heartwarming novel some day, but that's not the reality you want for your kids.*
If just one of you kicks the bucket, those unspoken wishes can cause rifts in the extended family that may never get repaired. You don't want your in-laws fighting over your spouse's assets in the wake of his or her death. A lot of people assume that if their spouse dies, they will automatically get the house and the car and anything else they consider valuable, but the reality is that you could end up a single, homeless, car-less parent unless these things are explicitly stated in a legal document.
