A will is a legal document specifying how a person's property and affairs should be handled after death, including asset distribution to beneficiaries, guardian appointments for minor children, and executor designation to manage the estate. Wills must meet provincial legal requirements—typically written form, signatures, and witnesses—to be valid. Dying without a valid will (intestate) means provincial intestacy rules determine asset distribution, which may not reflect the deceased's wishes. Estate planning involving wills helps ensure orderly asset transfer, minimize taxes and disputes, and protect family members. Wills should be updated after major life changes like marriage, divorce, or children's births. Estate administration involves proving the will's validity (probate), gathering assets, paying debts, and distributing to beneficiaries according to the will's terms.