We buy insurance for all kinds of reasons: for life, for accidents, and other disasters. We never regret the premium we pay even if we never make a claim. It is for our peace of mind. For similar reasons, we establish trust and last will or what known as an estate plan so that we know things will be taken care of according to our wishes after we are gone. However, I find many intelligent and educated Chinese do not have a will written while they are alive because of laziness or custom superstition about mentioning or dealing with death. This can cause serious headaches or legal trouble for relatives and/or descendants when one passes even in an uncomplicated family situation. Let me just give a fictitious example. You are making a comfortable living in the US after finishing your graduate studies while you parents were living in China in their own home due to conveniences and habit. When they pass, you stand to inherit their valuable home due to real estate price increases. However, some distant relatives, or neighbors, or unscrupulous person may claim that they took care of your aging parents while you spent your times in the US. Thus, they are entitled to the inheritance instead of you. How are you going to fight this particularly if your parents did not leave a will. Never mind if your family situation is more complicated with divorce, remarriage, and step children. In the US, if you die without a will, the state will let a standard will distribute your estate. This will may not be what you desire but you have no choice. Yes, a legally valid estate plan and will can be costly to establish (in thousands of US$). But like insurance it buys you peace of mind. I started one as soon as I have a family , finished school, and begun working. Over the decades, I added updates as family circumstance changed. My last update happened one year ago. This is being prepared.