Young people need a will as soon as they own anything of value or have anyone who depends on them, including a car, savings, a pet, or a child. A will lets you choose who inherits and who serves as guardian, instead of leaving those decisions to a court applying default state law.
It is easy to assume estate planning is something to worry about decades from now. But younger generations are actually more proactive about this than their parents were at the same age, and real cases show why that instinct is a good one. Below we look at what happens when young people skip this step, and exactly how to write a will while your life is still simple. When you are ready, FastWill's will package makes the process quick.
What Happens When a Young Person Dies Without a Will
DJ AM, the musician Adam Goldstein, died in 2009 without a will. His entire estate passed to his mother under his state's intestate succession laws. That outcome may have matched what he wanted, but there is no way to know for certain, since he never wrote it down. Given how vocal he was about addiction recovery, he may have wanted some assets directed toward that cause instead.
NFL quarterback Steve McNair died at 36 without a will, leaving behind a wife, two children from that marriage, and two more children from other relationships. Because he had no will naming all four children as heirs, his estate became a public legal fight, and a home he had purchased for his mother ended up titled in his wife's name instead of hers. A will would have let him direct exactly what he wanted for each family member, in private, without years of litigation. Our article on the consequences of dying without a will covers more examples like these.
Why Young People Actually Need a Will
You do not need to own a house for a will to matter. Consider everything you actually have: a car, a bank account, retirement contributions, a cryptocurrency wallet, or a collection you have built over years, whether that is sneakers, vinyl records, or signed memorabilia. All of it has value, financial or sentimental, and a will lets you say who gets it. If you are married, most states give your spouse priority under intestacy law, but if you are unmarried, your parents typically inherit by default, not a partner or sibling. If that does not match what you want, you need a will to say otherwise.
How to Plan a Will as a Young Person
Step 1: List What You Actually Own
Start with obvious assets like a car and bank accounts, then add digital assets: cryptocurrency, online accounts, and anything you would want handled a specific way.
Step 2: Decide Who Inherits
If you are unmarried without children, choose the people or organizations you want to receive your property. This can be family, friends, or a charity.
Step 3: Name an Executor
Your executor manages your estate through probate and makes sure your instructions are carried out. Pick someone organized and trustworthy, and name a backup.
Step 4: Name a Guardian If You Have a Child
Courts typically award custody to a surviving parent, but if that is not possible, you should name who you would want to raise your child, along with an alternate.
Consider an Advance Directive Too
An advance directive, sometimes called a living will or health care directive, is recognized in all 50 states and tells medical providers what care you want if you cannot speak for yourself. This matters at any age, but it is especially relevant for young people involved in higher-risk activities like extreme sports, frequent travel, or physically demanding work. You can update or revoke it at any time. Our guide on advance directives and living wills explains how this document fits alongside your will.
A Common Mistake: Waiting Until You Feel Ready
Many young people delay writing a will because they assume they do not have enough assets yet, or because thinking about death feels premature. The problem is that accidents and sudden illness do not wait for a convenient time. Writing a simple will now, then updating it as your life changes, protects you either way. If you are single with a straightforward estate, see our guide on writing an online will if you are single for a more direct walk-through of that situation.
How FastWill Handles This
FastWill's platform is built so a person with a simple estate and no attorney can set aside fifteen minutes and come away with a legally binding will that matches their state's requirements. You name your beneficiaries, your executor, and a guardian if needed, then sign and witness the document following the specific rules for where you live. You can come back and update it any time your life changes, at no added cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a will if I am young and do not own much?
Yes. Even modest assets like a car, savings, or a cryptocurrency account are distributed by state law if you have no will, and that default order may not match what you actually want.
Who inherits if I am young, unmarried, and die without a will?
In most states, your parents inherit first if you have no spouse or children. Siblings, close friends, and unmarried partners typically receive nothing under intestate succession law.
What is the difference between a will and an advance directive?
A will controls what happens to your property after death. An advance directive tells medical providers what care you want if you become unable to communicate while still alive.
Can I write my own will without a lawyer?
Yes, as long as it meets your state's signing and witnessing requirements. Many young people with simple estates use an online platform to handle this correctly.
How often should a young person update their will?
Review it whenever you experience a major life change, such as marriage, a new child, buying property, or moving to a new state, and at least once every few years otherwise.
Protect What You Have Built, Starting Now
You do not need significant wealth to benefit from a will, you just need people or causes you care about. Start your will with FastWill and take fifteen minutes to make your wishes official.
