Sandra found her father's will within days of his passing. Relieved, she assumed the will would settle everything: the house, the car, and his savings account would pass directly to her and her brother. Instead, she still had to file paperwork with the probate court and await a judge's approval before the home could be sold. Like Sandra, many people believe a will keeps an estate out of probate. In Maine, the two often go hand-in-hand.

Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey has joked that to show you hate your family, "leave unclear instructions and no will." Without knowing your final wishes, those close to you could fight over your estate or wind up paying your end-of-life costs themselves. If your loved ones struggle to manage the probate process, the burden may also affect them physically and emotionally.