“Many people know that they need life insurance to replace their income in the event of their passing. But besides life insurance, you also need to have a legal document known as a last will and testament. A will ensures that your property is transferred according to your wishes after your death. This is important because you don’t always designate a beneficiary for your property the way you do for life insurance benefits or retirement accounts.”
I found this article over at Nerdwallet.com and I think it breaks down in a very simplistic manner the pitfalls of dying without a will. Read it through!