Sometimes people seem to think that if they don’t plan for death, it just won’t happen. In fact, 58% of American adults have no will, no trust, and no estate plan at all, according to a recent study.
If you have no plan, South Dakota has a plan for you - it’s called “intestacy.” With intestacy, your assets go to those the state has pre-determined. They may or may not be the people whom you love and who love you. Each state’s intestacy laws are slightly different. Typically, a single person’s assets will go to their blood relatives. If they’re married, a percentage typically will go to their spouse, as well.