Final answer:
Dying without a valid will is known as dying intestate, causing the state's intestacy laws to govern asset distribution. Wills express asset distribution wishes, and living wills provide advance medical directives, including DNR orders.
Step-by-step explanation:
If someone dies without having a valid will, this is called dying intestate. When this occurs, the distribution of the deceased's assets is determined by the state intestacy laws, which vary from state to state, but generally follow a hierarchy of relatives. Furthermore, a will is a legal document that expresses a person's wishes regarding the distribution of their assets after death; without one, the courts decide based on the law rather than personal wishes.
Preplanning for medical decisions can be done by creating a living will or an advance directive, which includes specific instructions on medical treatment and interventions a person wishes to receive, or avoid, in the event they become incapacitated. This can involve directives such as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders, which instruct medical personnel not to employ lifesaving measures under certain conditions.